Abstract:

This article intends to cover various issues on entrepreneurship education and its benefits as well as costs. South Africa is facing unemployment crisis which is estimated to be 35%, which is the highest percentage. Unemployment rate affects mostly uneducated people; hence, the number of street vendors keeps increasing. Selling on the streets is a very lucrative form of business because these people do not even pay tax. However, street vendors face various challenges. Firstly, some of them are illiterate, while others have a very low level of formal education; let alone adequate entrepreneurial skills. Whatever they are doing is through trial and error. The purpose of the study is to explain the importance of using entrepreneurship education to enhance enterprising skills of street vendors in order to foster adequate entrepreneurial culture and contribute to employability. Entrepreneurship education covers educational activities that have a potential to make people take a responsibility and become enterprising individuals with knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to enable them to attain their objectives resulting in leading a fulfilled life. Some studies have revealed that people who have been involved in entrepreneurship education are more innovative and are also able to start successful businesses than their counterparts who have not done it. Moreover, being involved in entrepreneurship education makes one stand a good chance of getting a job. People who take part in entrepreneurship education are motivated to further their studies. Hence, entrepreneurship education needs to be regarded as a lifelong learning culture that needs to be inculcated at all levels of schooling from crèche to adult education. Street vendors need to be trained in such a way that they can be able to easily identify and seize entrepreneurial opportunities. Furthermore, people need to be equipped with expertise and skills to manage and expand their businesses successfully and create job opportunities for others. Undergoing entrepreneurship education will demonstrate skills which are crucial in maintaining business longevity and management. Most importantly, entrepreneurship education will provide street vendors with motivation, skills and knowledge to promote entrepreneurial success in different settings. One would ask the question: How would entrepreneurship education be made a success story in empowering street vendors? In order to be able to address this question interviews will be conducted in Durban (CBD). The relevant theory will be used to explain the phenomena.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship education, street vendors, enterprising skills and employability.