Entrepreneurship competence of economic management science teachers in the Kenneth Kaunda District

Abstract

The disproportionately high unemployment figures for the youth highlight the importance of finding alternative ways of increasing youth participation in the economy. According to the Western Cape Youth Report there are four major factors that have been identified as having a significant influence on the entrepreneurial environment in South Africa, especially as this relates to the youth, namely education and training; social and cultural norms; access to finance and the regulatory environment. Recent data compilations show that many poor and non–poor people in many developing countries face a high degree of financial exclusion and high barrier in access to finance. Although access to finance is a perennial problem for all small businesses, the youth are particularly vulnerable to this limitation. Many extremely poor households operate their own businesses, but do so without ample means. A particularly pernicious problem is that the school system is not producing functionally literate students. For many years financial literacy has been neglected. There was also general agreement that people should be equipped with social skills, but financial literacy was not necessarily included as one of these skills. Many school–leavers do not have sufficient literacy, numeracy and livelihood skills to be able to participate actively in the economy. Pilot initiatives revealed that students often enter university with little knowledge of how to work out a weekly budget or manage money. Many of them in receipt of bursaries and other financial support soon run out of money and lead a hand–to–mouth existence. A comprehensive and well co–ordinated approach to youth entrepreneurship is needed to increase the chances of success for start–ups as well as the chances of existing businesses to progressing from “micro” to fully–fledged small and medium–sized entities. The main objective was to research the entrepreneurship competencies, skills and knowledge of the EMS teacher who will be instrumental in promoting entrepreneurship under the youth of the country. To meet the research objectives a qualitative approach was selected and a questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. A new questionnaire was developed to assess respondents’ perceptions of the importance of entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and training in teaching EMS. The responses received were analysed and assessed and the findings are embodied in the recommendations and proposals of this dissertation. This study is of interest to policy makers, educational institutions and schools as well as to the Department of Education. The results of the study are intended to encourage the Department of Education to make a serious effort to promote entrepreneurship competence, knowledge and skills of primary school teachers.