This research examines the effectiveness of instilling 21st century skills in graduates of public versus private schools. The five skills that were examined are information literacy, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, self-regulated learning and the use of information and technology (ICT). No difference was found between graduates of public and private schools regarding their command of the five skills. Nevertheless, among women, graduates of private schools were found to have a large advantage over female graduates of public schools regarding their use of ICT. It was also seen that women have better control over self-regulated learning than men do. Conversely, they have less control over the skills of information literacy, critical thinking, interpersonal relations and use of ICT. Educators must recognize these 21st skills and the variables that affect command of them, in order to plan effective quality policies for education, which will take into consideration the gaps between different student populations.

Published in: London International Conference on Education (LICE-2016)

• Date of Conference: 14-17 November 2016
• DOI: 10.2053/LICE.2016.0035
• ISBN: 978-1-908320-76-6
• Conference Location: Heathrow Windsor Marriott Hotel, UK