Exploring Perceptions of 21st Century Skills among Thai Grade 9 Students: A Focus on the 4Cs

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of Thai secondary school students regarding the importance of 21st-century skills, specifically focusing on the 4Cs: creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. The study employed survey research using a 68-item online questionnaire via Google Form, which was distributed to 146 ninth-grade students at a school in Thailand during the 2024 academic year. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings reveal a strong positive perception of all four 4Cs skills, with over 72% of students recognizing their importance. Communication skills emerged as particularly significant, receiving the highest agreement rating among the 4Cs (M=3.62). This emphasis on communication suggests a potential focus on these skills within secondary education, highlighting the need for continuous development throughout a student’s academic journey. Although creativity and critical thinking also received a mean of 3.61, collaboration skills, while still viewed favorably, had a slightly lower agreement mean (M=3.60). This suggests a potential need for further exploration of collaborative learning environments within the school setting. These insights from the findings can inform targeted improvements in educational practices, particularly by developing curricula directed at promoting communication-focused activities and more effective collaborative strategies, to better prepare students for future academic and professional challenges.