ASSESSMENT OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ACQUIRED BY UPPER BASIC SCIENCE STUDENTS IN APA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
This study assessed the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Upper Basic Science students in Apa Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined gender differences in entrepreneurial skills acquisition, evaluated the relevance of acquired skills to real-world business challenges, and identified areas requiring improvement. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a target population of 1,820 Upper Basic III students drawn from public and private secondary schools in Apa LGA. Using multi-stage sampling, a sample of 320 students was selected based on the Morgan and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. Data were collected using a researcher-designed instrument titled the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Questionnaire for Upper Basic Science Students (ESAQUBSS), which was validated by three experts and returned a reliability coefficient of 0.70 via the Cronbach’s Alpha method. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and independent sample t-test at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that students acquired entrepreneurial skills at a moderate level, with no statistically significant gender difference in acquisition (t = 1.685, p = 0.093). Students perceived their acquired skills as moderately relevant to real-world business demands (grand mean = 2.87), with stronger ratings for soft skills such as problem-solving and communication than for business-specific competencies. All identified areas required improvement, with practical training, laboratory equipment, and financial management training emerging as the most critical needs (grand mean = 3.09). The study recommended curriculum reforms, enhanced teacher training, and increased practical exposure to strengthen entrepreneurial skill development in Basic Science education.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial skills, Upper Basic Science, Skills acquisition, Science education, Entrepreneurship education.
