The Role of Soft Skills in Shaping Academic Performance among Learners: An Exploratory Study

In the 21st century, globalization has transformed our world into a global village. In rapidly changing world, individuals need to adapt themselves in diverse work situation. This is possible through the gaining of wide array of knowledge, skills, values. In this connection, UNESCO recognizes the prominence of soft skills (transversal skills) in education and their role in fostering lifelong learning, employability and maintain social relationship. By considering these points in mind an attempt is made to assess the association among soft skills and academic achievement of higher secondary students in West Bengal. A total 414 students of higher secondary level in some schools of selected districts of West Bengal were included through multi-stage random sampling in the study. Self-made soft skills inventory developed by the investigator based on the dimensions proposed by UNESCO (2019) was constituted the tool of the present study. Final board exam results of class-XI taken as an academic achievement of students. Here descriptive correlation design was used to obtain the objective of the study. The findings of the investigation unveil that academic achievement and soft skills are moderately associated (r = 0.62, p<0.01) with each other and that would help in holistic development of learners.