Education & upskilling

1.3.1 Key policy interventions

Educational Systems fit for the future: Governments around the world are grappling with how to adapt their educational systems to meet the demands of the 21st century. One of the most significant policy areas is the shift towards inclusive education, recognizing that every child, regardless of ability or background, deserves quality learning opportunities.

Life Skills Development: Another key policy area is the integration of essential life skills into the national curriculum. While traditional subjects remain important, there is growing recognition that topics like financial literacy, digital citizenship, and mental health must be taught formally.

In Japan, for example, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released guides on financial education for children, specifically addressing the rise of a cashless society and the need for digital financial literacy (World Economic Forum, 2025).

These policy moves reflect a proactive approach to equipping children with the practical knowledge they need to navigate the modern world.

Emotional Wellbeing and Resilience: Emotional wellbeing and mental health issues are increasing globally and starting at much younger ages. This is a crucial area to integrate into mainstream education and skills learning at a young age, to equip individuals with essential tools for their future.

In Canada, provinces like British Columbia have implemented a comprehensive “Mental Health in Schools Strategy” which focuses on building mental wellness, resilience, and compassionate leadership throughout the school system (Government of British Columbia, 2025). This policy provides a framework and resources for teachers to integrate mental health discussions into their curriculum, moving beyond a reactive approach to a proactive, preventative one.

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours: Setting early foundations for healthy lifestyles are key to healthy habits in later life and prevention of chronic disease. Early childhood development policies are gaining traction as a foundational pillar for future health.

For example, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program in India, one of the largest in the world, combines early childhood education with nutrition, health check-ups, and immunization services for children under six and their mothers. By focusing on the holistic development of children from birth to age eight, these policies create a strong foundation upon which all subsequent learning can be built, preventing the need for costly remedial interventions later in life and ensuring that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds start on a more equal footing.