A SURVEY ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE UNEMPLOYMENT ALLEVIATION IN CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Unemployment remains a significant socioeconomic challenge in Cameroon, posing threats to individual livelihoods and national economic stability. Despite efforts by the government and various stakeholders to address this issue, the unemployment rate persists, particularly among the youth demographic. In response to this pressing concern, entrepreneurship education has emerged as a potential solution to not only mitigate unemployment but also foster sustainable economic development. Entrepreneurship education involves a diverse array of programs and initiatives designed to equip individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills, and mindsets essential for initiating and managing successful enterprises. In recent times, there has been a growing acknowledgment of the pivotal role entrepreneurship education can play in empowering individuals to create their own avenues of employment, thus lessening dependency on conventional job markets and nurturing a climate of innovation and enterprise.

In the Cameroonian milieu, where conventional employment avenues may be insufficient to accommodate the escalating number of job seekers, entrepreneurship education holds particular promise. However, despite the proliferation of entrepreneurship education endeavors throughout the nation, there exists a dearth of comprehensive studies gauging their efficacy in addressing unemployment in a sustainable manner.

Entrepreneurship education is designed to teach the skills and knowledge that are imperative to starting an entrepreneurial venture. However, the reality of starting a business requires overpowering many challenges such as start-up capital constraints, penetrating into the market and sustainability of the business (Aliyu, & Bambale, 2019). The processes of emergence, behaviour and performance of indigenous entrepreneurs were separately and in combinations affected not by a single but multiple factors, in ranging degrees. These factors include economic, socio-cultural, ecological, managerial, Global Journal of Business Disciplines Volume 3, Number 1, 2019 45 educational, developmental, experiential, technological, structural, ethical and innovative issues (Ogundele 2018). Many people have a clear intention of starting a business, but they failed to start because they could not overcome some of these challenges (Abubakar 2017). Entrepreneurship education therefore equips students with the necessary entrepreneurial competencies, knowledge and skills geared towards the pursuit of a career in entrepreneurship; Ooi, Selvarajah & Meyer, 2021). The skills and knowledge acquired from this education would be instrumental to their entrepreneurial pursuit. Nevertheless, this study aims to bridge this gap by undertaking a thorough evaluation of entrepreneurship education's contributions to sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon. By scrutinizing the impact of entrepreneurship education programs on individuals' entrepreneurial aspirations, tangible business ventures, and long-term viability, this research endeavors to furnish valuable insights into the effectiveness of such initiatives in fostering economic empowerment and curbing unemployment rates.

Furthermore, this study will delve into the myriad factors influencing the success of entrepreneurship education initiatives in Cameroon. These factors encompass the caliber of curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, accessibility to resources and support networks, and the regulatory framework governing business establishment. Therefore, a survey will be conducted to survey on the contributions of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In spite of numerous endeavors aimed at alleviating poverty in Cameroon, significant hurdles persist, impeding sustainable development and socioeconomic advancement. Arshed et al. (2018) highlight that considerable challenges such as high unemployment rates, especially among youth and women, alongside limited access to economic opportunities, contribute to perpetuating the cycle of poverty in many areas. Moreover, there is growing recognition of entrepreneurship education as a potential avenue to empower individuals, foster employment, and catalyze economic progress. Nonetheless, the precise impact of entrepreneurship education programs on poverty alleviation in Cameroon remains uncertain. Sari (2018) further underscores the research gap concerning the efficacy of entrepreneurship education in addressing poverty in Cameroon comprehensively. While anecdotal evidence suggests that entrepreneurship education equips individuals with the necessary skills and mindset to initiate and sustain businesses, empirical studies on its actual effect on poverty reduction in Cameroon are scarce. Additionally, the factors impeding the success of entrepreneurship education initiatives in poverty reduction are not well understood. Thus, it is in the light of these that the study seeks a survey on the contributions of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon. 

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to survey on the contributions of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon.  Specifically, the study will;

Identify the causes of youth unemployment in Cameroon.

determine whether there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and unemployment reduction.

find out role of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon 

find out the extent entrepreneurship education is implemented to minimize the level of unemployment in Cameroon 

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What are the underlying factors contributing to youth unemployment in Cameroon?

Is there a noticeable correlation between entrepreneurship education programs and the reduction of unemployment rates?

What role does entrepreneurship education play in fostering sustainable solutions for alleviating unemployment in Cameroon?

To what extent is entrepreneurship education being utilized to mitigate the level of unemployment in Cameroon?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant impact on the contributions of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon 

Ha: There is a significant impact on the contributions of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon 

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will offer evidence-based insights into the efficacy of entrepreneurship education as a tool for reducing poverty in Cameroon to policymakers, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The information gathered will assist in the creation of specific policies, initiatives, and programs that support economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in order to help reduce poverty. Additionally, the results will enable people and communities to successfully take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities. Additionally, it will assist in identifying the abilities, know-how, and networks of support required to encourage entrepreneurship among marginalized groups, including women, youth, and rural residents, allowing them to build sustainable livelihoods and enhance their socioeconomic well-being. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to investigate entrepreneurship skills and its effect on sales performance of small and medium scale businesses in Cameroon. 

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is to investigate entrepreneurship skills and its effect on sales performance of small and medium scale businesses in Cameroon. Empirically, this study will identify the causes of youth unemployment in Cameroon, determine whether there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and unemployment reduction, find out role of entrepreneurship education on sustainable unemployment alleviation in Cameroon and find out the extent entrepreneurship education is implemented to minimize the level of unemployment in Cameroon 

Geographically, the study will be delimited to youth of Buea, Cameroon

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.8 Definition of Terms

Entrepreneurship: is the act of creating, organizing, and managing a business venture, typically with the goal of making a profit.

Entrepreneurship education: are programs, courses, and initiatives designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to identify, evaluate, and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities effectively.

Unemployment: is the condition of individuals who are willing and able to work but are unable to find employment opportunities.

Alleviation: the act of reducing or easing the intensity, severity, or burden of something, such as poverty, suffering, or a problem