5. Conclusion
This paper has reported the development and validation of the Malaysian 21st century skills instrument (M-21CSI) designed to assess the 21st century skills mastered by the science students in secondary schools. The development of the M-21CSI is as an alternative to identify the necessary skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. In this era, improving students’ outcomes is crucial to develop a more competitive workforce as Malaysia pushes towards being a developed nation by 2020. In order to be successful in inculcating these skills, it is argued that three significant mechanisms are in demand. First, the public at large must acknowledge the 21st century skills as essential to the education of today’s learner. Second, schools must embrace new designs for learning based on emerging research on how people learn information processing, effective uses of technology and the 21st century skills in the context of rigorous academic content. Lastly, policy makers must base school accountability on assessments that measure both academic achievement and the 21st century skills.