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THE DUAL ROLE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO SECRETARIAL EDUCATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Although business education is often described as “education FOR and ABOUT business” ‘(Nwosu, 1999), its primary purpose is to prepare individuals for gainful employment in business occupations. Whether paid -employment or self employment, the emphasis is on exposure to, and acquisition of, knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant and adequate for employment in specific business occupations. Therefore the value of any business education could be determined in its ability to adequately prepare and equip individuals in such a manner that they could fit into specific jobs or establish their own business on graduation.

Business education is also defined as that education which prepares students for entry into and or advancement in jobs within business, and prepares them to handle their own business affairs and function. Intelligently as consumers and citizen in a business economy (Popham 1975). Anao (1986) stated that business education could simply mean an educational process or content that has its primary aim as preparation of people for roles in business enterprise.

A review of the roles of business education is necessary as this will enable one to determine the roles it plays or should play in the Nigerian Economy. Some of the major roles reflects previous education and experience, career needs, learning goals and personal aspirations of students.

(1) It provides career guidance to adult student to increase their awareness of various job opportunities and changing requirements for career  entry and advancement.

Business education is entirely vocational in the sense that the recipient is prepared for manifold purposes e.g. As a business teacher, an office worker and a collector of information for self use. It is a wide discipline that encompasses a number of specialist areas like secretarial studies, accounting, business management, distributive education, computer studies and  marketing.

Business education with emphasis on the acquisition of secretarial skills is one of the educational systems that provides employable skills. What is particularly significant about secretaryship is that the skill will continue to be in high demand and those with it will never be stranded in the labour market. Anao (1987) speaking on the role of business education in a developing economy saw secretarial education as that educational process or context which has  the role of preparing people for enterprise as employed entrepreneur /employer and or self employed.

Secretarial studies, like many other programmes of study had a very humble beginning in Nigeria. This is partly due to the method and  nature of the training received. Secretarial training was left mainly in the hands of the “road side” trainers this led to the academic  snobbery of being a programme for the “dropout”, However this snobbery was soon erased after independence, when the country decided to vocationalise education to curb the unemployment problems being faced at the time (Onabamiro 1982). As a result secretarial studies (an integral part of business education studies was then given a due recognition in the formal educational system. (FRN, 1998)

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The world in particular is growing in complexity day in day out while the labour market is getting saturated daily. For the past years Nigeria economy has not been encouraging. There has been serious surge of unemployment which has led to some, other diverse crimes like robbery which now come in different form other than the main way of carrying gun. Business education could serve as a means to a buoyant economy. The question is, what is the standard of Business Education in Nigeria? What is parental attitude towards business education? Another problem is the fussiness surrounding the operational definition of business education as it relates to Nigeria. This research is concerned about solutions to these questions.

1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is aimed at determining The role Business Education plays in Nigeria economy. It is also meant to alert the authorities of the implication of not encouraging Business Education as a means of overcoming the problems of prevailing unemployment.

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant to students as they will derive the knowledge that business Education provides them with the needed skills that will make them relevant in the world of work. Parents would also appreciate the subject as a vocation for future benefits of their children. To the government and society, it will create awareness of government  philosophy of education, that is to foster the worth and development of the individual for each individuals sake and for the general development of the society.

1.5    RESEARCH QUESTIONS.

1.    What is the benefit of business education in the Nigeria economy.

2.   What role does secretarial Education play in the Nigeria Economy.

3. Are there enough qualified teachers for the teaching of secretarial education.

4.  To what extent are the resources, materials needed for adequate training in this programme available

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is limited to the year three (Final year) students of the secretarial studies department of Federal College of Education Technical Akoka.

1.7    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

There are many limitations to this research. Family commitment, poor funding, time constraint in the gathering of information etc.

Time is a factor when other academic commitments are put into consideration and money as a means of moving around in the source of materials and information, attitudes of the respondents in responding to questions objectively.

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