America’s high schools and colleges aren’t preparing students for adulthood, says a new study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
The national education strategy has been too focused on academics and not real-world skills, according to the study, “Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century." Many employers are finding today’s young job seekers lack the necessary skills to be successful in the workplace. The report recommends shifting to a two-track approach with an emphasis on job skills along with college preparation.
Georgia's General Assembly is apparently recognizing this need. A new bill, HB 186, would require high school students to have an education in "soft skills," such as punctuality, basic math, and teamwork, to better prepare them for the work place.
The two-year study found full-time employment among young adults is at its lowest level since World War II while only 30 percent of America’s youth are graduating from a 4-year college.