An investigation into youth entrepreneurship in selected South African secondary schools: an exploratory study

Abstract

This research paper examines the status of entrepreneurship education in selected South African secondary schools to determine the impact thereof on young learners' attitude towards entrepreneurship and their future plans. It highlights some challenges facing youth entrepreneurship development in Sedibeng secondary schools. The study is based on the attitude approach to entrepreneurship research and discusses the results of an empirical study involving 1 748 grade 10 learners. South African youth appear to have a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship and the existence of opportunities for new venture creation, but seem to have inflated expectations with respect to their future academic qualifications and less interest than would be expected in starting their own businesses. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that entrepreneurship education in the sample schools was largely infrequent and without depth or focus. The results indicated that catalytic factors, such as exposure to entrepreneurship at school and having self-employed parents, have not had any effect on learners in the sample, thus re-emphasising the urgent need for entrepreneurship training programmes of value. The paper concludes with recommendations for further research on entrepreneurship education in South African secondary schools.