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Towards a theory of an entrepreneurial curriculum : an analysis of curriculum relevancy in the light of Botswana's economic needs

The purpose of this study secondary schools and industries in Botswana support the
inculcation and development of entrepreneurial attributes. Concurrently, it investigated
consonance between the attributes fostered in senior secondary schools and those
required by Botswana's manufacturing industries. Hence, it investigated images,
perceptions and attitudes among students and teachers in senior secondary schools and
industrialists towards entrepreneurial skills and attributes. It also investigated levels of
social acceptance for entrepreneurial attributes, teaching/learning approaches in schools,
classroom and industrial dynamism and the utility potential of entrepreneurial skills and
attributes as perceived by students, teachers and industrialists.
The research design used was the investigative descriptive survey targeting students and
teachers in senior secondary schools and industrialists in Botswana's manufacturing
sector. A questionnaire was used for collecting data. Statistical analysis involved
descriptive statistics, cross tabulation and correlation using the SPSS computer package.
The research findings indicated a correlation in the students' and teachers' perceptions of
an entrepreneur relating an entrepreneur with psychological traits and an enterprise. The
findings also indicated that teachers are more disposed towards entrepreneurial attributes
than students and industrialists who are more disposed towards traditional conformist
academic attributes. All the respondents indicated a dislike for autonomy and risk taking.
The reward and progression systems seemed to favour the inculcation of traditional
conformist attributes.
The study also revealed that industrialists in Botswana prefer conformist and selfmanagement
skills to entrepreneurial skills and attributes. Individual entrepreneurial
attributes seemed to have a minimal influence on industrial dynamism. Entrepreneurial and incubator occupations were ranked least by teachers and students in the hierarchy of
occupations. On implementation procedures, teachers preferred teaching methods and
materials which enhance the acquisition of entrepreneurial attributes while students,
preferred those enhancing traditional conformist attributes. There is a disjunction between the skills and attributes inculcated in schools and those
required in the manufacturing industries. A hi-perceptual composite entrepreneurial
curriculum focusing on entrepreneurial psychological skills and attributes and enterprise
as a physical phenomenon was recommended. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/17531
Date11 1900
CreatorsMthunzi, Colwasi Gabriel
ContributorsGouws, F. E.
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format1 online resource (xix, 376 leaves)

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