Entrepreneur education assessment in secondary schools

Abstract

The purpose of this research report is to investigate how Entrepreneurship is being taught in the classroom of secondary schools and to see if there is a vast difference between how it is taught across the income spectrum of the students.The research used a qualitative methodological approach. Questionnaires were sent out to respondents selected by the researcher (convenient sample). Then there was a follow-up in-depth interview with all the respondents. The respondents are all teachers who currently teach entrepreneurship at secondary schools and were divided into three groups depending on the school they teach at. There is the private school, the Model C School and the public school.The research revealed that there are vast differences in the way entrepreneurship is taught between the schools. Private schools have a large component of ‘beyond the classroom’. These include company visits, guest lecturers on entrepreneurial exercises. Model C Schools were very limited with the ‘odd’ guest lecturer and ‘fund raising’ poject. Public schools have no practical component to entrepreneurship what so ever. All the previous research suggests that a practical component to teaching entrepreneurship is vital. This research high-light’s that entrepreneurial education is seriously lacking at secondary school level in that a practical component seems to be missing.This research report looked at different schools to see if there was possibly a model that could be replicated across secondary schools that could bring in a practical element to teaching entrepreneurship. A model was found called, ‘R10 in ten days’. Students are placed in pairs and given R10 on a Wednesday. The following Friday they return the R10 and profit. They pay 20% to the school and keep the rest. This is a model that can be implemented in every school. Furthermore it creates a culture of ‘entrepreneurship’. Parents, relatives and friends get involved. A culture that encourages entrepreneurs is far more successful than one that doesn’t.