EDUCATION – UNFIT FOR BUSINESS?

It seems absolutely incredible that business leaders are continually saying that people leaving education – school or university, don’t have the skills they need.  You would think that this would prompt some action on the part of education. But of course with so many academic vested interests in play this is unlikely to happen.  Recent research by the IOD pointed to the gap which exists between what is important and the skill levels in graduates.  

For example, the IOD research said that the second and third most important were literacy and oral communication.  Over 90% said these were key.  However, the assessment was that only around 40% of graduates always had these.

To function effectively school leavers/graduates need to be able to communicate positively and constructively, think things through quickly and objectively and solve problems.  Only recently have thinking skills specifically been taught in the curriculum yet this is a fundamental need.
To the best of my knowledge positive constructive communication still isn’t anywhere on the curriculum – particularly in relation to oral communication skills. 

However, we do still probably spend around 20% of the curriculum on maths when only around 2% actually use the mathematics they learn in school subsequently.  What are the chances of ever getting the fundamentals needed by business today to drive the curriculum rather than the other way round?