‘Schools are creating A* robots with no life skills’
SCHOOLS in Wales are in danger of producing “A* robots with no knowledge of the real world” – that is the verdict of the first report produced by the Welsh Youth Parliament, released yesterday.
Written by the young people themselves, the report gives an insight into what today’s schoolchildren really think of the Welsh school curriculum and where they think the gaps are.
Youngsters feel they leave school illequipped with the skills needed to succeed in life, most notably how to deal with grief and how to arrange a mortgage.
“We currently leave school with a handful of skills, but no knowledge on how to speak in public, clean, maintain healthy relationships, buy cars, apply for mortgages, road safety, and many other skills that are needed to succeed in life,” the report said.
Based on the findings, the review calls for the new curriculum to be amended to include more life skills and to reduce the emphasis on exams.
The Welsh Youth Parliament questioned more than 2,500 young people about their views on how life skills were taught in schools across Wales.
About eight out of 10 pupils said they had been taught internet safety and dealing with bullying, while only around one in 10 had learned about dealing with grief or political education.
Almost three-quarters of those questioned said life-saving and dealing with stress should be added to the skills already taught in the classroom.
The “large gaps” aren’t just in what is taught, but are also in how the subject is taught.
The report found that life skills were often “crammed” into personal and social education days, which are viewed as “days off” by pupils.
The survey results also suggested teachers felt worried about “not being in touch, and getting things wrong” when delivering the lessons.
The report said it was clear pupils were not being taught the subjects they valued, and said politicians and schools should “listen more to young people when making decisions on their education”.
It comes at a critical time as the Welsh Government is currently consulting on a new curriculum.
The Welsh Government agreed life skills were important and any new curriculum would develop “capable learners”.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams will consider the recommendations when the Youth Parliament meets on Friday at the Senedd.
The curriculum is just one of three areas the Youth Parliament, made up of 60 elected members, will scrutinise over its two-year term.
On Saturday, the Welsh Youth Parliament will begin work examining its two remaining key priorities – emotional and mental health support for young people, and littering and plastic waste.