BABAYEMI, John O. Department of Science Education Akwa Ibom State University babayemioluwole@gmail.com
RAIMI, Sikiru M. Department of Integrated Science Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Oyo, Oyo State morak2013@gmail.com
ABASI, Andrew U. Department of Science Education Akwa Ibom State University andrewabasi@yahoo.com UDOMBENGE,
Queen B. Department of Science Education Akwa Ibom State University queenbasil34@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This study focused on reviewing pre-service teachers’ training curriculum to equip trainees with entrepreneurial skills. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 178 student in 400 level at Akwa Ibom State University science education teacher trainees (2021/2022 academic session). 144 science education teacher trainees were used as sample for the study. Teacher Trainees’ Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition Questionnaire (α=0.83) was used to collect data. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The data collected were analyzed using mean score and independent t-test. The results showed that Akwa Ibom State University preservice science education teachers do not acquire entrepreneurial skills for global competitiveness; preservice science education teachers never visited entrepreneurial skill centres/professionals for skill acquisition. The result further revealed that there was significant difference between male and female science education teacher trainees’ acquisition of entrepreneurial skills (t=2.156; df=142; P<.05) and there was no significant difference in how often Akwa Ibom State University male and female science education teacher trainees visit entrepreneurial skill centres/professionals for skill acquisition (t=1.176; df=142; P>.05). The study recommends among others, that entrepreneurial based curriculum at all levels of education should be introduced and necessary materials for the implementation, as a matter of urgency should be adequately supplied.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial skills, entrepreneurship education, pre-service teachers, trainee teachers