Development of Entrepreneurial Skills among Pre-Service University Teachers through Physics Education in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The formal type of education system in Nigeria has not adequately given students a functional education rather, it has produced graduates with certificates that could not fit into the industries and labour market due to lack of the required competencies and skills. The rate of unemployment among Nigerian graduates has given rise to integrating entrepreneurial education into Physics education curriculum so that students can become self-reliant and self-employed. Hence, this paper examined the development of entrepreneurial skills in pre-service university teachers through physics education in Ilorin, Kwara State. Three research questions were raised and answered in this study. The study was a descriptive survey design with a sample size of 126 pre-service Physics teachers that were selected from three universities in Ilorin. Purposive sampling technique was used to select universities that offers Physics education as a course. The validated instrument contained 25-item structure questionnaire. The reliability for the index was 0.77 using Cronbach Alpha technique. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study showed that pre-service teachers were able to identify entrepreneurial skills in Physics as well as teaching methods that could lead to the development of these skills. However, a low competency of entrepreneurial skills among the students was found. Suggestions and recommendations were therefore made to this effect.