Curiosidade do dia

Um artigo interessante no FT do passado dia 14 de Abril, "The problem with workers who can't think for themselves":

A tese central é ... os trabalhadores (jovens) não sabem pensar por si próprios:

"I have started hearing a new complaint from employers: that their workers are not free thinkers.

One said the highly educated graduates they hired from top universities were "well-credentialed and present effectively" and "excellent at taking instruction". But the employer was concerned: "They don't think for themselves. So I worry about them. I don't know what they'll be able to do when they're 35.

...

Students intuit what the system wants and become good at delivering it. But this is not what employers value now. It is not following instructions that matters but the ability to imagine and judge an array of options and alternatives. This requires curiosity, initiative to think beyond obvious agendas, resilience when answers are not obvious and a love of learning to power new skills.

Why have so many educationally accomplished individuals not learnt to think this way? In many instances, their education is too specific, too early. A focus on incentives such as grades or university places discourages discursive thinking. Undergraduates I have worked with want handrails and instructions detailed to the point of what font they should use.

...

People, whose prospects appear constrained by an education too tightly fitted to yesterday and not adaptable enough for tomorrow."

Segundo a autora, as causas principais passam por um educação demasiado formatada, cria alunos excelentes a cumprir regras, mas fracos em criatividade, iniciativa e julgamento independente, e a desvalorização das artes e humanidades. O declínio do ensino das artes em favor das ciências, tecnologias e matemática (STEM) reduz a capacidade dos estudantes de explorar ambiguidade, pensar criticamente e lidar com a incerteza — competências valorizadas hoje pelas empresas.