A SURVEY OF ENTREPRENUERSHIP EDUCATION IN THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

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Author

Presented To

Department of Arts

ABSTRACT

This study surveyed Entrepreneurship Education in three Colleges of Education in Nigeria. Descriptive Survey was used and the objectives of the study were; to examine the content quality of vocational training given to the students; find out whether the NCE students can become self-reliant and freelance after school and if the students are familiar with the concept of freelance, self- reliance and entrepreneurship. A sample of 294 students and 24 lecturers from three colleges of education (College of Education Minna, Federal College of Education, Kontagora and College of Education – Federal Capital Territory Zuba, Abuja) were used. The instruments used for the study were interview, observation and questionnaire. The Data collected were analysed and results presented in frequency distribution and percentage, table of mean score and standard deviation. While chi- square was used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that the students were exposed to vocational skills in the relevant areas of Fine and Applied Arts. Some of the students may become self – reliant and freelance after school, some may not. Seventy five percent of the students are familiar with vocational concept of freelance, self – reliance and entrepreneurship. The study concludes that the importance and relevance of Fine and Applied Arts at the National Certificate of Education (NCE) level cannot be underestimated if the goals of a self – reliant nation must be attained as specified in the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Minimum Standard. Also there cannot be effective vocational skills training where there are inadequate lecturers, art studios, materials, facilities and infrastructure; poor funding and negative attitude of parents, the students and college management towards skills training courses. As a result of the findings, it was suggested that government should re- structure the NCE Fine and Applied Arts curriculum so that the NCE will be tailored toward entrepreneurship to enhance vocational skills in the students. Finally it was suggested that students should be encouraged to be job creators instead of being job seekers which can be achieved by engaging them in an extensive industrial training programme in relevant industries, organisations and professional bodies.