AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATORS, FACILITATORS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS REGARDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN JAMAICA (DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, PROGRAM DESIGN, TRAINING)

This study investigated perceptions and expectations of vocational educators, facilitators and small business owners regarding entrepreneurship education in Jamaica. Entrepreneurship education was treated in this study as one medium through which self-employment concepts could be implemented in vocational education programs. Entrepreneurship education is also expected to provide individuals with some basic knowledge to assist them in their personal lives, and to help those who become small business owners to be aware of factors that can contribute to efficient operations.;Data were analyzed by measures of frequencies, means and standard deviations. Findings of the study indicate that there was a positive attitude towards the introduction of an entrepreneurship program in the education system of Jamaica by all three groups of respondents. Respondents identified topics that they considered to be very important components of entrepreneurship courses which would meet the needs of small business owners. The topics included: record keeping, costing and pricing, problem solving and decision making. Topics were categorized into attitudinal, management and business, and practical activities areas. Respondents indicated that the management and business area was the most important category. The respondents also indicated that the secondary school was the best institution in which to teach entrepreneurship courses.;The findings resulted in the following recommendations: (1) Entrepreneurship education should be introduced in the educational system in general, and in the secondary curriculum in particular. (2) National and Local Advisory Committees for Entrepreneurship Education should be established.;The survey research method was used to determine the expectations and perceptions of respondents. The data were collected by a personally administered questionnaire and discussion with respondents. The instrument was administered to 158 subjects, namely, 123 vocational educators, 28 small business owners, and 7 facilitators (administrators of organizations that are responsible for developing and implementing programs to assist small business owners). The questionnaire included items relating to: (a) appropriateness of the program, (b) important topics for entrepreneurship education courses, and (c) essential decisions regarding the placement of entrepreneurship education into the vocational education curriculum.