Young People in England Lag Behind Their International Peers in Socio-Emotional Skills
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), a UK-based research organization that generates ideas on education policies and practices aimed at strengthening classroom practices, has revealed that the socio-emotional skills of young people aged 15–16 in England are lower compared to many other countries.
According to the report published as part of the five-year research program Skills Imperative 2035, young people in England lag behind countries like Japan, Canada, Estonia, and Sweden in areas such as cooperation, empathy, stress management, and emotional control.
The lack of these skills poses a serious threat not only to individual well-being but also to the future workforce and economic growth. While the study shows partial progress in cognitive skills (literacy, numeracy, problem solving), it highlights that inequalities in socio-emotional skills have increased. In particular, disadvantaged children face a significant gap in these areas.
The report recommends that the government prioritize the recruitment of qualified personnel in early childhood education and systematically promote the development of these skills in schools. It also proposes restructuring teacher recruitment and training strategies to include socio-emotional development.
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