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GCE is a firm believer in preparing Youth Today for Tomorrow’s World.
At the Transforming Education Pre-Summit in June 2022 in Paris, France, it was highlighted that the global skills crisis is a key concern – the World Economic Forum estimates that 50% of employees will need reskilling by 2025 meanwhile one billion young people are due to enter the workforce in the next decade.
Youth and Students from across the GCE movement gave voice to the importance of youth skills globally and what governments and other stakeholders should be doing to ensure they gain the necessary skills for future employability and entrepreneurship.
Voices of Youth and Students on Youth Skills
Why is investing in skills for employability and entrepreneurship important for youth?
Investments in foundational learning and life skills for employability and entrepreneurship are important, as such investments empower youth, particularly the most vulnerable populations of girls & non-binary youth, LGBTQ+ populations, children with disabilities, and individuals living in conflict-affected regions, with the self-confidence, resources, and opportunities to unlock their full potential.
Anny Lin, Student Fellow at the Global Campaign for Education-USA
Through youth skill development, there will be a sustained move toward self‐employment, which continues to be an increasingly important element of economic growth and development. Failing to invest in the youth triggers substantial economic, social, and political costs and negative outcomes such as crime and violence. Given the dire cost implications of underinvestment, policymakers have the self-interest to allocate sufficient public resources for youth development.
It is rational to think that a person who has acquired practical, value-added, solution-driven knowledge will seek a suitable position in an organization or takes up entrepreneurship. Education must therefore provide the relevant life skills needed to improve an individual's prospects for a happy, productive, fulfilling life. The youth must be prepared through the acquisition of not just content knowledge but also the skills and mindset they need to work collaboratively, solve problems they care about and handle upheaval.
The All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Ghana
Investing in youth skills allows young people to have the ability to self-promote, to know to take advantage of and create opportunities. This will make them have an appreciable position for employers and/ or funders if they intend to embrace entrepreneurship.
Vilma Chilundo, Finalist Students of Mozambique Association, MEPT Mozambique
What should be done by governments and the education sector towards life skills education for employability and entrepreneurship?
Governments and the education sector should commit robust funding and effective policies towards addressing structural inequities and strengthening free, accessible, and equitable quality, inclusive education – including foundational learning, vocational training and other life skills education opportunities – that provide all youth with innovative and adaptable skills for employability and entrepreneurship in increasingly interconnected and evolving economies.
Anny Lin, Student Fellow at the Global Campaign for Education-USA
Investing in employable and entrepreneurial skills for youth is a smart investment. In partnership with the education sector leaders, the government must outline ambitious plans to level up youth employability and entrepreneurship activities. Through youth skill development, there will be a sustained move toward self‐employment, which continues to be an increasingly important element of economic growth and development.
The All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Ghana
The government and the education sector should invest more in education, seeking to provide schools with teaching materials, promote more professional internships for students, and update training courses according to the needs of the job market. An incubator could also be created at each university for entrepreneurial students that could assist them in developing their businesses.
Vilma Chilundo, Finalist Students of Mozambique Association, MEPT Mozambique
In the rapidly changing world of work, skills are moving targets, making it increasingly difficult to match the supply and demand for them. Unemployment and inactivity are affecting youth in particular, and it is up to governments and partners to invest in providing the vocational and technical skills that are key to reducing unemployment and transforming economies.
About
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a civil society movement that aims to end exclusion in education. Education is a basic human right, and our mission is to make sure that governments act now to deliver the right of everyone to a free, quality, public education.
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