Education Week – Satoko Yano and Mark Manns
“Across education systems in the Asia-Pacific region, there is a growing emphasis on transversal competencies, better known in the U.S. as 21st century skills, and a move away from “traditional academic” studies, such as rote learning…The ten education systems documented in the study have all recently (and separately) introduced or moved to strengthen existing dimensions of transversal competencies in their education policies and curricula… the country cases are illustrative of an important global movement that calls for the need for education to move beyond the acquisition of knowledge and literacy and numeracy skills, which has been the dominant purpose cited in education discourse since the 1960s…To date, no consensus has been reached on a single term for referring to non-academic skills, non-cognitive skills, or 21st century skills. All of these terms broadly refer to and encompass skills, competencies, values, and attitudes required for the holistic development of learners, such as: collaboration, self-discipline, resourcefulness, and respect for the environment… Contrary to the widely held view that Asian education systems heavily emphasize traditional rote learning, this new research paints a picture of commitment and determination among the participating countries and economies to make transversal competencies a significant component of their education systems moving forward.”(more)