Evaluating Entrepreneurial Skills Needed by Business Education Students for Self-employment in Colleges of Education, Kano State

Abstract

This study evaluates the entrepreneurial skills needed by business education students for self-employment in colleges of education in Kano state. Two research questions guided the study. The population for the study was 913 final-year, business education students across the three selected colleges of education in Kano State. The sample size for the study was 256 final-year students in the selected schools. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A 19 items structured four-point rating scale questionnaire, duly validated by experts in the field of business education, measurement and evaluation, and English language was used for the data collection. The instrument was subjected to a pilot test and a reliability coefficient of 0.95 which was taken to reliably determined using the Cronbach Alpha (     ) co-efficient. The data collected for the study were analyzed using percentage scores for the personal data of the respondents and mean scores with a benchmark of 2.50 and above accepting the questionnaire items and the grand mean. The study revealed that Managerial skills, Word processing skills, and Practical entrepreneurial skills among others were identified as entrepreneurial skills needed by business education students for self-employment. Poor funding, lack of adequate infrastructure, and corruption among others were also identified as the constraints hindering the effective acquisition of entrepreneurial skills by business education students. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills is necessary for making graduates of business education to be productive and self- reliant after graduation. As a way forward, it was recommended among others Provide mentorship and coaching: Students need guidance and support as they develop their entrepreneurial skills. Governments and schools can provide mentorship and coaching programs that connect students with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. These programs can provide students with advice, feedback, and networking opportunities that can help them succeed.