The Relationship between Inquiry-Based Teaching and 21st Century Skills among Primary School Students in Malaysia

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between Inquiry-Based Teaching (IBT) and 21st-century skills (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity) in primary school students. A quantitative research method was applied, by which data were obtained from a questionnaire survey. SPSS was utilized for descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis. The results indicated that there was a significant positive correlation between IBT and each of the four dimensions (r = 0.608–0.657, p < 0.001), with the strongest correlation found with Creativity. Moreover, there existed a moderate to strong correlation among different skills, suggesting an interrelated characteristic. This study supports constructivist learning theory, highlighting the importance of learner-centered pedagogy in enhancing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS). In practice, it is suggested that the teachers apply inquiry-based and collaborative learning strategies.