Communication and Analytical Skills

The Shuttleworth Foundation is involved in research into the idea that the two core skills acquired by learners at school are communications and analysis. As such, the transfer of these skills should be prioritised – especially in the African context where resources are often scarce and fundamental skills require specific focus.

Communications skills concern the individual’s ability to understand what is read, heard and seen while being able to participate meaningfully in dialogue and other interactions. It is a basic skill that is often taken for granted, but a vital component of what is learned at school.

Analysis refers to the individual’s ability to recognise patterns and divide problems into their constituent parts, solving these elements using familiar tools or arguments and then synthesizing a result from the individual pieces.

Both of these key skills enable learners in other areas of their study, forming a foundation for their future academic careers. The Foundation carries a hypothesis that schools should ensure that learners build strong capacities in both of these dimensions and that where resources are scarce, these fundamental skills must be prioritised above all else.