OPENING THE DOORS FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTHS AND ADULT LEARNERS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION: EMPOWERMENT AND OPPORTUNITY
Teaching “for” entrepreneurship refers to an occupationally oriented approach to imparting the necessary knowledge and skills to aspiring entrepreneurs. Teaching “through” refers to a methodical, typically hands-on technique in which students participate in a real-world entrepreneurial learning experience. This study aimed to assess the empowerment of out-of-school youths and adult learners through entrepreneurship education in the outskirts. The idea of infusing entrepreneurship education into the outskirts of the city could be challenging but promising. Empowering them through entrepreneurial education has the potential to change their lives, opening the door to more opportunities than the same old routine activities in their lives. The respondents of this study are one of the marginalized groups who happen to dream of a simple life but find it hopeless to attain. This study attempts to examine the personal empowerment of the out-of-school youth (OSY) and adult learners who are the “magniniyog,” or coconut farmers, in the provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental. Some have completed the ALS program; some have not. A mixed method was used in order to reflect participants’ points of view, give voice to study participants, and ensure that study findings are grounded in participants’ experiences. Utilizing descriptive-comparative and descriptive-correlational research designs for entrepreneurial intentions, some challenges were identified when trying to embed entrepreneurship into education, such as resource constraints, time constraints, resistance from the family, assessment challenges, and cost implications. Empirical results show there was a significant relationship between entrepreneurial intention and hindering factors, as manifested by the r-value of -0.124. The push factors that motivate respondents to become entrepreneurs had a grand mean of 3.17. It is recommended to provide them with the functional knowledge and skills and the power to take control of their own lives, initiate change in themselves to improve their quality of life and influence others to become useful and productive members of the community through entrepreneurship education.
KEYWORDS: ENTERPRISE EDUCATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OUT-OF-SCHOOL-YOUTH, ADULT LEARNERS, EMPOWERMENT.
