An education professional with over two decades of experience, Dr. Kelvin Griffin serves as principal of Arlington Christian School in Fairburn, Georgia, where he oversees the work of all personnel while providing leadership, direction, and coordination. He holds a master’s degree in education and a PhD in educational leadership from Mercer University. Dr. Kelvin Griffin advocates for the importance of teaching soft skills in school and collaborates with other US schools on the creation of soft skills programs for students.

Soft skills are also referred to as non-cognitive skills, as opposed to academic or technical skills. This set of social, emotional, and behavioral skills can help people perform well, achieve goals, cooperate with others, and overcome difficult situations.

Highly valued by employers, soft skills are not taught enough during primary and secondary education, when the importance of academic subjects leaves little space for developing strategic soft skills. However, by learning these skills at a younger age, students can increase their chances of success as young adults.

Including soft skills in the school curriculum will help students increase their leadership, communication, and social skills as well as problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Developing these skills can also aid with conflict resolution and self-control as well as provide students with much-needed self-confidence, self-awareness, and an overall sense of emotional well-being.