'Life skills education should become mandatory in schools'

Life skills education should become mandatory in primary and secondary schools, according to researchers from the 'kenniscentrum Samen Redzaam' at Leiden University of Applied Sciences, including Dr Carolien Gravesteijn (one of the lab leaders) and Dr Ilona Schouwenaars (living lab developer) from the Medical Delta Living Lab 'Life skills'.   

Children in the final year of primary school are increasingly less able to sustain a conversation, according to recent research by the Dutch Inspectorate of Education. In response, experts called in the media for a “speaking offensive.” Researchers at Leiden University of Applied Sciences argue that this does not go far enough: they advocate making life skills education mandatory in schools.