'Employers aren’t hiring people for what they know anymore'- Education CEO
Mrs Crabbe contributed to the discussion during the intermission period of the final round of the 2025 Inter-Secondary School Debate Competition on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
The moot of the debate was ‘Compared to traditional schooling, a S.T.E.A.M focused education system better prepares students for the future’.
She explained that an S.T.E.AM-built education is about helping children understand that things cannot be considered in isolation anymore.
“It is not something in a fancy lab, and I think in a lot of ways that is what we consider it to be, it is about using a student-centred approach,” Mrs Crabbe said.
Student-centred classrooms keep students engaged- Mrs Crabbe
According to the CEO, educators in the Virgin Islands were hired to educate the children and the focus of their work should always have been student-centred.
“I should never be about what the teacher prefers and how the teacher likes it and what the teacher feels like teaching today…It should always be about the children in your class, the skills they come with, the skills they need, the personalities in your room, what they like,” she added.
Those things she said should be used to enhance the teaching experience that will have students engaged and making them want to come to school, and participate because it is relevant, and they understand it as it applies to them.
Employers aren’t hiring people for what they know anymore- Mrs Crabbe
Moderator of the debate Mr Damion C. Grange asked Mrs Crabbe, “What about the argument that even within the technological space, in addition to the traditional workforce, the employers are saying that they still prefer to employ persons that are coming from a more traditional setting because they’re having commitment, attention and issues?”
Mrs Crabbe said she questions that argument as the environment in the VI is one where employers say they prefer to employ persons who have nothing except “soft skills”.
“I don’t believe they’re soft at all, and I’ll tell you what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the ability to get along, the ability to be criticised in the workplace, the ability to take instruction, take direction, stay on task; those are the skills employers [want]. Employers aren’t hiring people for what they know any more; it’s what they have demonstrated they are able to do and their attitude that they bring into the workforce,” Mrs Crabbe explained.
She added that an attitude of collaboration cannot be developed in a classroom that tells students to sit still, shut their mouth and “don’t swallow your own saliva until I tell you to”.
These skills, she said, are fostered in a student-centred classroom, “It is the ability to argue with your peer about a position that you have or an assignment that you’re trying to complete and learn that I need to regulate my emotions, I’m getting too antsy about this thing."
She added the many skills learned in a student-centred classroom are lifeskills, career skills and futuristic skills.
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17 Responses to “'Employers aren’t hiring people for what they know anymore'- Education CEO”
I’m talking about the ability to get along, the ability to be criticised in the workplace, the ability to take instruction, take direction, stay on task; those are the skills employers [want]. Employers aren’t hiring people for what they know any more; it’s what they have demonstrated they are able to do and their attitude that they bring into the workforce,”
This sentence right here is totally true!!
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It's just glaringly obvious!
And what's even more painful, is when our own people, buy into these these types of discriminatory narratives, under the guise of seminars, and important "meet-to-greet", types of settings-trying to fool, and belittle, the intelligence, of our people!
An abominable failure, of the leadership, of this country!
Madame CEO you should have thought carefully before you made such sweeping generalisations about how our children should be prepared to assume jobs in the future. In fact I think it was highly irresponsible of you to utter such non-factual statements that are seemingly based on subjective thinking.
Unless you have empirical data to prove your position, you should refrain from projecting such views unto the public domain. What is even more concerning is how you may now try to bully teachers into accepting such flawed theories, with the full support of a young and inexperienced minister, as you both move full STEAM ahead without a proper compass. To be honest, thought of such a possibility makes me cringe.
I am old-school and strongly believe that a good command of subject content, coupled with requisite soft skills make for more well-rounded employees that can definitely be assets to their organisations.