Preyansi Mani
Education and Youth Advisor
German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
What sets today’s young people apart compared to their previous generations? There are three key things that a young person has at their disposal more than any previous generation:
Access – the ability to consume and acquire information through the internet
Agility – to adapt to technological disruptions
Ability – to collaborate beyond the confines of their physical space to make regional and global connections.
The World Bank recognizes data literacy as a key skill for the 21st century, defining it as “an individual’s capacity to find, access, read, work with, and analyze data to responsibly inform decisions.” Data literacy is not just about consuming data; it’s about understanding its nuances, interpreting its implications, and using it to make a difference.
Developing a digital mindset is crucial for data literacy, a skill that is vital for young people from all backgrounds, not just those in tech. It’s important to dispel the misconception that data skills are only for tech students; data literacy is about confidently accessing and understanding data, regardless of your background. Therefore, for young people to be competitive, they need skills to be conscious, collaborative, and empathetic while their space is being constantly intruded on by technology every second.
Imagine a world without data literacy! Decision-making would be uninformed, innovation would stagnate, and societal progress would be hindered. Conversely, a world with data-literate young people is one where informed decisions drive progress, innovation thrives, and global challenges are tackled effectively.
Data is power, but it’s not neutral; it’s up to us, the data-literate generation, to harness its potential responsibly.