Influence of non-academic entrepreneurial initiatives on students future business career aspirations a case of public secondary schools students in Kisumu central

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of non-academic entrepreneurial initiatives on secondary school students’ business or entrepreneurship career aspirations in Kisumu-Central sub-county. The study was guided by four objectives ; to determine the extent to which career guidance influences business career choice by students, determining the level at which clubs and other extra curricula activities influence business career interest in students, determine how out- of-school informal entrepreneurial entry behaviour influences entrepreneurial career choice of students and to determine the extent to which personal entrepreneurial traits and competencies influence the relationship between entrepreneurial initiatives and business career aspirations. This study was undertaken because of its perceived importance in helping all stakeholders dealing with youth economic empowerment. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the target population was all secondary school students in Kisumu Central-Subcounty. The research instruments used were questionnaires administered by the researcher and an assistant. The study was limited by tight school schedules that occupies students’ time and was delimited to Kisumu-Central for its idealness. The literature was reviewed under the following sub-themes career guidance and business career choice, role-models and motivational speakers and business career choice, family background, community business activities and informal entrepreneurial training in business career choice. Other sub-themes in study were school clubs and societies in business career choices and entrepreneurial traits in business career choices. The study adopted a theoretical and conceptual framework that explained the critical dependent and independent variables. The study research design ensured the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data through questionnaires and the data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages and presented in tables and discussed as per the reviewed literature. From the study career guidance, role-models motivational speeches family and community background, on-job business training, club and society activities and entrepreneurial traits were important in initiating business careers. The study recommended that entrepreneurial career guidance be enhanced and awareness be created about its existence, families and communities should encourage young people to participate in business activities, schools should encourage participation in club activities and do more on entrepreneurship and personal traits should be nurtured.