ABBA, KANU UNO; DR. JUDITH TAWO-OBEN AGBOR TANO-ARI; HOGAN EDET BASSEY; ADAI SEFA GEORGE
EVALUATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE
This study evaluated the self-reported proficiency of young people in key 21st-century skills and their association with career readiness in Calabar South and the Municipality of Cross River State, Nigeria. Researchers employed descriptive survey methods, and participants were selected through stratified random sampling among 300 individuals aged 16 to 24 years. The data collected through self-report questionnaires evaluated participants' levels of critical thinking skills along with creativity skills, collaboration abilities, digital literacy competencies, and communication competencies. The researchers performed descriptive and inferential statistical examinations with chi-square tests to determine the relationship between these skills and career readiness. The demographic assessment indicated that most of the sample population was comprised of young adults, while the sample population showed an extreme unemployment rate of 64.3 percent among participants. Participants demonstrated low ratings in critical thinking and creativity (40% Not Proficient and 80% below Proficient), although they performed better at digital literacy (40% ranked Proficient or Very Proficient). The statistical test showed positive associations between critical thinking and collaboration skills and career readiness since they produced significant findings at ?² = 25.116 p = 0.003 and ?² = 25.949 p = 0.002. These results highlight their essential role in employability enhancement. A lack of statistical relationship emerged between career readiness and either creativity or digital readiness, which indicates that other elements might affect employment success. Educational efforts need immediate focus on developing critical thinking and collaboration abilities in young people because these skills improve their career readiness instrumentally. The analysis reveals the need for additional research to recognise the elements that affect students' creativity and digital literacy. This work provides essential information about workforce preparation and educational modernisation in Nigeria by offering youth essential capabilities.
Keywords: 21st-century skills, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, digital literacy, career readiness, young adults.
ABBA, KANU UNO; DR. JUDITH TAWO-OBEN AGBOR TANO-ARI; HOGAN EDET BASSEY; ADAI SEFA GEORGE
EVALUATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE
This study evaluated the self-reported proficiency of young people in key 21st-century skills and their association with career readiness in Calabar South and the Municipality of Cross River State, Nigeria. Researchers employed descriptive survey methods, and participants were selected through stratified random sampling among 300 individuals aged 16 to 24 years. The data collected through self-report questionnaires evaluated participants' levels of critical thinking skills along with creativity skills, collaboration abilities, digital literacy competencies, and communication competencies. The researchers performed descriptive and inferential statistical examinations with chi-square tests to determine the relationship between these skills and career readiness. The demographic assessment indicated that most of the sample population was comprised of young adults, while the sample population showed an extreme unemployment rate of 64.3 percent among participants. Participants demonstrated low ratings in critical thinking and creativity (40% Not Proficient and 80% below Proficient), although they performed better at digital literacy (40% ranked Proficient or Very Proficient). The statistical test showed positive associations between critical thinking and collaboration skills and career readiness since they produced significant findings at ?² = 25.116 p = 0.003 and ?² = 25.949 p = 0.002. These results highlight their essential role in employability enhancement. A lack of statistical relationship emerged between career readiness and either creativity or digital readiness, which indicates that other elements might affect employment success. Educational efforts need immediate focus on developing critical thinking and collaboration abilities in young people because these skills improve their career readiness instrumentally. The analysis reveals the need for additional research to recognise the elements that affect students' creativity and digital literacy. This work provides essential information about workforce preparation and educational modernisation in Nigeria by offering youth essential capabilities. Keywords: 21st-century skills, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, digital literacy, career readiness, young adults.