How Early Critical Thinking Shapes Student Success

Matthew Jaskol, Founder and Program Director, Pioneer Academics in an interaction with Higher Education Review shared his views on the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills in early childhood rather than waiting until secondary or higher education, how can teachers effectively integrate critical thinking exercises into traditional subjects like math, science, and language without overloading the curriculum and more.

Matthew Jaskol is the founder of Pioneer Academics, leading global educational innovation that empowers high-school students through accredited research-based and problem solving learning opportunities. Matthew Jaskol is the founder of Pioneer Academics, leading global educational innovation that empowers high-school students through accredited research-based and problem solving learning opportunities.

Why is it essential to begin nurturing critical thinking skills in early childhood rather than waiting until secondary or higher education?

Critical thinking skills are always essential in education, and this is the era with the tech development that calls for these skills more than ever before. From the talent development perspective, critical thinking skills work similarly like knowledge-based skills, art skills or sports skills, the earlier a student starts understanding it, the longer he or she will be able to practice it, and therefore stronger critical thinker they will become. The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship funded the research about critical thinking teaching in early childhood and found empirical evidence to support the benefit of teaching critical-thinking early. It shows that early interventions in thinking-skills can positively affect dispositions like language use, independent thinking, and cooperation.

In India especially, where children often enter highly structured academic environments at a young age, critical thinking can act as a counterbalance to the pressures of performance and memorization. It helps young learners build confidence in their own reasoning and problem-solving abilities, which is essential not just for academic success but for long-term adaptability. And in a world that is rapidly changing, where technology evolves faster than curriculum, this adaptability becomes one of the most important life skills a child can develop. Ultimately, early critical thinking nurtures a generation of learners who see themselves not as passive recipients of information, but as thoughtful, independent participants in shaping their own future.

How can teachers effectively integrate critical thinking exercises into traditional subjects like math, science, and language without overloading the curriculum?

Integrating critical thinking exercises into curriculum that focus on building knowledge requires an overhaul of the teaching system, ranging from what critical thinking skills are set as the outcome, to how they are taught, and to how to assess the learning outcome.

Different subjects require different approaches:

Math and science itself are strictly a logical process. Error analysis in these subjects is an effective way to reinforce that critical thinking. In mathematics, for example, asking students why a method works or encouraging them to arrive at multiple solutions cultivates deeper conceptual understanding. In science, even simple acts like inviting students to predict outcomes before an experiment or challenge a hypothesis, help them internalize the scientific method rather than memorize it.

Language and humanity subject teachers can increase critical thinking teaching by shifting focus on answers to explaining hypotheses and evidence in the materials. In literature classes, exploring a character’s choices or debating alternative endings naturally strengthens analytical and interpretive thinking.

These moments don’t demand extra time; they simply shift the focus from answer-getting to meaning-making. And this is especially important in India, where teachers often manage large classrooms. Small reframings, consistently done, create a lasting impact. When teachers build these micro-moments into their routine, critical thinking becomes not an additional task, but the lens through which every subject is understood.

What role do parents and home environments play in shaping a child’s ability to question, analyze, and think independently?

I would say either parents help a lot or not so much. It takes parents who are great critical thinkers and who are conscious about nurturing critical thinking into daily conversations. In most cases, it is really hard for critical thinking skills to be developed at home. Besides that critical thinking is a sophisticated skill set that requires systemic teaching and practicing.

There are still tips that parents can encourage critical thinking in early childhood. In a way they can create a child’s first learning environment. When parents in India encourage open conversations, they signal that thinking is valued. Even simple habits like asking children what they think about a story, or involving them in small household decisions, build analytical confidence. When homes become safe spaces for dialogue, children learn that independent thought is not a challenge to authority, but a pathway to growth.

How can schools strike a balance between academic achievement and the development of reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities?

Schools do not need to choose between academic excellence and the development of reasoning or creativity - these strengths reinforce each other. When students learn to question, analyse, and think independently, they don’t just memorize more; they understand more, and that deeper grasp translates into stronger academic outcomes. The real shift comes from moving away from content overload toward cognitively rich learning that emphasizes analysis, justification, and application.

This is especially important in high-pressure systems like India, where success is often reduced to percentages. Inquiry-based tasks - designing experiments, reinterpreting events, breaking down complex problems step by step - make students more engaged, confident, and resilient.

In a world increasingly driven by AI and automation, how does early critical thinking education prepare students for future job markets and civic life?

In a world increasingly shaped by AI and automation, early critical thinking education is one of the strongest predictors of future success - both in the job market and as an engaged citizen. When students learn critical thinking from a young age, they develop the ability to evaluate information instead of passively absorbing it. This skill becomes essential as AI-generated content floods daily life and misinformation spreads quickly. Students who can question sources, weigh evidence, and detect assumptions are far better equipped to make informed personal and civic decisions.

Early critical thinking also trains students to understand complex systems - economic, technological, environmental - and to identify problems or opportunities within them. This systems-level awareness is fundamental to navigating interconnected challenges in society, from climate change to algorithmic bias.

In the workplace, these early foundations translate into highly valued competencies: creative problem-solving, leadership, communication, and adaptability. As automation handles routine tasks, human advantage shifts to skills machines cannot replicate easily - contextual judgment, ethical reasoning, and the ability to collaborate and innovate across disciplines.

How can assessments evolve to measure critical thinking effectively, rather than focusing solely on rote memorization or standardized testing?

Assessments can evolve to measure critical thinking more effectively by shifting from product-only evaluation to process-based assessment. Instead of rewarding students solely for memorizing information or selecting the right answer on a standardized test, process-based assessments examine how a student thinks: how they gather evidence, analyze assumptions, revise ideas, and build arguments over time.