BUSINESS STUDIES AT PRIMARY EDUCATION LEVEL:A CATALYST FOR PREPARING YOUNG CHILDREN FOR THE WORLD OF WORK AND FURTHER STUDIES IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Primary education was designed to prepare young people for the world of work and higher studies. However, this objective has not been given adequate attention, which has consequently led to rise in unemployment among people who could not further after primary education. This study examined Business Studies at PrimarySchool Level of Education as a catalyst for preparing young children for the world of work and further studies in Lagos State, Nigeria. Descriptive research survey was employed for the study. The population of the study consisted all of 138 and 97 business studies teachers in Epe and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State respectively while judgmental sampling technique was used to select 94 respondents representing 40% of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire, validated by experts in measurement and evaluation. Cronbach, alpha measure of Internal Consistency was used to determine reliability of the instrument, which yielded the coefficient alpha value of 0.82, which was high enough to be reliable. The data collected were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the null hypotheses of the study at 0.05 level of significant. The findings of the study revealed that Business studies would prepare primary school pupils for the world of work and higher studies. Based on the finding. It was recommended among all that professional bodies like ABEN and BUSTAN should propose the introduction of Business Studies into the Primary School Curriculum to the Government. Also the Government should make primary and secondary education totally free, accessible, efficient and effective, so as to accommodate all young children.

Keywords: Business Studies, Primary Education level, Young children, World of Work,  Further Studies