AUTHOR=Chilenga Ntharika , Dhliwayo Shepherd , Chebo Abdella K. 

TITLE=The entrepreneurial mindset and self-employment intention of high school learners: The moderating role of family business ownership

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Education

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.946389

DOI=10.3389/feduc.2022.946389

ISSN=2504-284X

ABSTRACT=Entrepreneurship, through successful business venturing, plays a pivotal role in a nation’s endeavor to create jobs and boost the economy. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports state that South Africa’s early-stage total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) is lower than most countries that are at comparable levels of development. Therefore, the entrepreneurial mindset of high school learners and its influence on self-employment intention was assessed in this study. Also, the moderating effect of family business ownership on the relationship was also measured. Data collected from 320 learners in randomly selected 10 high schools in Gauteng was analysed using hierarchical regression analysis. The study finds that the level of entrepreneurial mindset is above average, which provides potential for a higher total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) in the future. Entrepreneurial skills significantly influence self-employment intention, while learners’ family business background moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial traits and self-employment intention. The study establishes the entrepreneurial mindset level of high school students in a country with one of the lowest TEA in the world, South Africa where (possibly) the latest entrepreneurial mindset measure, the Entrepreneurial Mind-set Profile (EMP) instrument is used. Also it’s unique in testing the role of family business background in intensifying the entrepreneurial mind-set towards self-employment intention. Therefore, the Department of Basic Education should aim to tap into the existing desire in high school learners and develop a curriculum that integrates theoretical and experiential learning. It is expected that this intervention will improve the future TEA of the country.