Influence of Age and Career Choice on Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition among Senior Secondary School Students in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of age and career choice on entrepreneurial skills acquisition among senior secondary school students. Two objectives guided the study: to determine the difference in students’ entrepreneurial skills acquisition based on age, and to determine the difference in students’ entrepreneurial skills acquisition based on career choice. Two corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. 54,622 Senior Secondary Two (SS II) students in public secondary school students in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.   A sample size of 397 SS II Students obtained using Taro Yamens’ formula was used for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used in obtaining the sample size for the study. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire, and the hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed a significant difference in students’ entrepreneurial skills acquisition based on age, with older students demonstrating higher entrepreneurial competencies than younger students. The results also indicated a significant difference in entrepreneurial skills acquisition based on career choice, with students in commercial and vocational tracks showing stronger entrepreneurial skills than those in science and arts tracks. The study concludes that both age and career choice are key factors influencing entrepreneurial skills acquisition among senior secondary school students. It recommends the adoption of age-sensitive teaching methods, full integration of entrepreneurship across all career tracks, and increased provision of practical entrepreneurial exposure to enhance students’ preparedness for self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.