THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Keywords:
Entrepreneurship education; Primary school students; 21st-century skills; Experiential learning; Entrepreneurial competencies; Child development.Abstract
Entrepreneurship skills have become essential competencies for navigating the rapidly changing demands of the 21st century. This study explores the importance of developing entrepreneurial mindsets among primary school students and examines how early exposure to entrepreneurial learning contributes to children’s cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Grounded in competence-based frameworks and constructivist learning theories, the study highlights the role of curriculum integration, experiential learning, and supportive school environments in shaping young learners’ creativity, initiative, problem-solving abilities, and resilience. A review of contemporary literature demonstrates that entrepreneurship education at the primary level not only enhances students’ confidence and collaboration skills but also fosters positive attitudes toward learning and value creation. The proposed conceptual framework illustrates how macro-level policies, school practices, and classroom experiences interact to build foundational entrepreneurial competencies. Overall, the study emphasizes that introducing entrepreneurship education in primary schools is a strategic investment in preparing future-ready, innovative, and socially responsible citizens.
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References
European Commission. (2016). EntreComp: The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework. Publications Office of the European Union.
(Foundational framework widely used in entrepreneurship education research.)
Lackéus, M. (2015). Entrepreneurship in education: What, why, when, how. OECD Education Working Papers.
(Explores why entrepreneurship should start early and links to 21st-century skills.)
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(Discusses pedagogy and the role of entrepreneurship in early education.)
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(Empirical research including younger learners.)
Morris, M. H., Webb, J. W., Fu, J., & Singhal, S. (2013). A competency-based perspective on entrepreneurship education. Journal of Small Business Management, 51(3), 352–369.
(Links entrepreneurship competences and learning outcomes.)
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(Evidence on attitudes and self-efficacy.)
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(Shows mechanisms like self-efficacy.)
Bruyat, C., & Julien, P. A. (2000). Defining the field of research in entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 16(2), 165–180.
(Foundational conceptual research relevant for framing.)
Wraae, B., & Walmsley, A. (2020). Entrepreneurship education in the early years: A systematic literature review. Education Inquiry, 11(4), 325–347.
(Systematic review specifically focused on primary/early education.)
Tolentino, L. R., Sedoglavich, V., Lu, V. N., Garcia, P. R., & Restubog, S. L. (2014). The role of self-efficacy and supportive parents in developing entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 29(3), 491–505.
(Relevant to children/younger learners through self-efficacy mechanisms.)
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