Survey shows New Brunswick youth lag in resilience and skills, sparking calls for enhanced educational and community support programs.
Skills Gap
A Scouts Canada survey reveals New Brunswick trails other provinces in developing resilience and soft skills among youth, raising concerns about their future readiness.
According to the survey, which sampled opinions from 1,000 Canadians, only 2.9% of respondents view New Brunswick as effectively preparing its youth for future success. This places the province near the bottom of the national ranking, just ahead of Prince Edward Island. "No one should ever be counting out the potential of Canadian kids," said Kathryn Ashby, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Scouts Canada. "Kids just need the right experiences and mentors to bring out their confidence."
The survey highlighted that a staggering 94.7% of Canadians believe the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the youth’s development of essential life skills, with New Brunswick's youth perceived to be at a particular disadvantage. The lack of stress coping skills, basic etiquette, problem-solving abilities, and confidence were frequently cited as areas of concern.
Scouts Canada has emphasized the value of their programs in developing these crucial skills, and they urge more families to get involved. With a competitive annual membership fee of $270, Scouts Canada offers a range of activities that promote teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
As New Brunswick looks to the future, the focus is shifting towards more robust support systems and community engagement to ensure that today’s youth can successfully navigate the challenges of tomorrow.
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