Smart Parenting for a Fast and Constantly Changing World.
The Caribbean STEM Coaching Club runs regular “Parents Helping Parents” problem-solving and knowledge-sharing ZOOM discussions on a wide range of topics. On 21 September 2024, parents shared their “Top Ten” perspectives on “Smart Parenting for a Fast and Constantly Changing World.”
- Caribbean parents need a new perspective. What does a good education look like in a world which is fast and constantly changing, and which is increasingly volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous?
- Skills become obsolete very quickly. The skills now most in demand did not exist a few short years ago. Most of our children will probably be doing jobs which do not yet exist. So we must now prepare our children to do jobs which do not yet exist, using technology not yet invented to solve problems we do not yet have. How do we do that?
- The illiterate of the age in which we live are those who are unable to learn, unlearn and relearn over and over again. Helping our children to become fast, effective and confident learners – lifelong learners – has to be a key parental responsibility.
- Qualifications are important, yes. But parents cannot afford to give them undue weight. Skills are now the real oil and skills-based hiring is becoming normalised. Some companies no longer ask where you went to university or even if you went to university. They are after skills and a learning mindset that would keep up with the fast pace of change.
- Some argue that unless our children are pursuing vocational degrees – e.g., medicine, dentistry, the real value of University is developing self-management skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, curiosity, and a confident, learning mindset that would equip young people to reinvent themselves over and over again.
- Others argue that what say engineering and computer science students learn in the first year of their degree programmes typically becomes obsolete by their third year. So it is easy to see why employability skills and work experience are now more valued in the workplace than in the past. Many now pursue degree apprenticeships which enable students to work while they study. University degree programmes which include a year’s internship are also highly valued.
- A note of caution: the quality of apprenticeships can vary considerably so you have to do your research!
- It can be a challenge for our children to get good quality careers advice, work experience, and internships. Outfits like Investin, Reach and 10,000 Interns help. Family networks and community networks such as Amos Bursary, Westside Academy, local churches, sports clubs etc are extremely helpful. It is still the case that the majority of work opportunities come through the “hidden job market” i.e., jobs which are not advertised anywhere.
- There are many new pathways to tertiary education, jobs and careers. A-levels are not the only pathway to university; BTECs can also open the door to universities – including Russell Groups. And for those without the “right” A levels, an initial foundation year at the desired university can also open doors to degree programmes.
- For most jobs nowadays, the degree background is irrelevant. So some argue that children should be encouraged to study what they are interested in at the best possible university. But our young people must now have a ruthless focus on building employability skills, career self-management skills, and valuable work experience in ways which were not necessary in the past. And they need to be confident, curious learners, prepared to upskill and reskill regularly throughout their lives.
Penny Carballo-Smith, 26 September 2024