Perception of Entrepreneurship as a Career by Students from Selected Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi

Abstract

This study sought to determine how students of public secondary schools in Nairobi perceive entrepreneurship as a career and whether they would want to pursue a career in entrepreneurship upon completion of school. The study bore in mind that both exogenous and endogenous factors have the potential to influence the students’ perception of entrepreneurship and thus contribute in determining their entrepreneurial intentions. As such learning Business Studies in secondary school and having parents/ guardians in self employment was viewed as having prior exposure to entrepreneurship. Data for this study was obtained by use of a questionnaire administered to randomly selected students from selected schools that were representative of public secondary schools in Nairobi. They were 135 respondents who comprised of both male and female students and students ranging from Form one (1) to Form four (4). The research revealed that although majority of students had a positive perception of entrepreneurship as a career option, there were various factors that were perceived as hindrances or challenges. Key of these was the fear of failure, lack of sufficient knowledge to start and run own business and the inadequate funds to start business. The study also revealed that there was no significant difference in the perception of entrepreneurship between students who had had prior exposure through Business Studies subject at school and those who had not studied the subject. It was also observed that students who had parents/ guardians in self employment were not highly motivated to go into entrepreneurship so as to continue in family business.