1、Future-ready educationEMPOWERING SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DIGITAL SKILLS#GetTheFutureYouWantExecutive summary Todays digital world,with its massive amounts of information and misinformation,requires an unprecedented level of fluidity from students.They must be able to distinguish fact from opi

2、nion,objectivity from bias,and honesty from insincerity in an online setting.They must understand the risks of technology and the internet,and how to mitigate those risks.At the same time,the digital world requires them to have the soft skills of an adapter,a creator,a problem solver,and a critical

3、thinker.As technology transforms every aspect of our lives,and the world is rapidly shaped by artificial intelligence(AI),students who are digital-,data-,and media-literate will have a significant advantage over their peers.Digital skills are now essential for all professions,from science and engine

4、ering to healthcare and finance,and even the arts.It is crucial that students learn digital skills so they can compete in the job market and contribute positively to society and the economy.They also need digital skills to be savvy enough to recognize misinformation and not fall prey to the dangers

5、of disinformation and fake news,which can imbue students with a distorted world view or mistrust of media.Our research reveals that secondary school students are not sufficiently confident in the digital skills required to thrive in the 21st century.This is particularly pronounced in certain student

6、 cohorts,such as those in rural areas.Rural students face a double inequality less access to technology and less teaching of digital skills than their urban peers.Even among older secondary school students(aged 1618),who are closest to joining the workforce,confidence is low.The majority of teachers