Abstract:
The progress of a society depends, not only on its capital, natural resources
and technology, but it depends on the education or literacy of its workers and
educated labour has access to pertinent economic information. Thus, success
in the educational area is a decisive element to ensure economic
competitiveness of the new South Africa.
With the twenty-first century approaching and South Africa undergoing radical
transformation, the necessity of having an economically literate society is
becoming more imperative.
Business activities are encountered by all people and all institutions on a
daily basis. Competitive business is accepted as a way of life in most
Western countries. The way to achieve success in business, is to understand
how businesses operate.
Centre stage to the transformation process of education in South Africa is the
rapidly changing structure to an outcomes-based system. Eight learning areas
are identified and this research resorts under the learning area of Economic
and Management sciences.
Present research is intended to be used in school context for Grade 8, to
introduce commercial concepts and provide an introductory framework to be used
as platform in daily economic occurrences or for more intensive study.
Research methodology includes a thorough literature study to find out what
other researchers conclude on the topic . The qualitative method of research
and questionnaires were utilized to accumulate information on business acumen.
Use was also made of description to report what the current situat ion is
concerning business acumen. The quantitative method of research is also made
use of as method of testing the success of the programme. A pre- test as well
as a posttest was administered to the same group of students at the night
school of the President Steyn Gold mine as initial testing. A second set of
tests were conducted to a group of grade eight learners at the Nanabolela
Secondary School to ensure validity of the learning programme.
The conclusion was reached that it would require adaptation by schools to
introduce such programme, but that the time was ripe for change and such
change could only be advantageous to learners. Adult education could also
benefit from such programme which would serve to facilitate a smoother
progress of any course in commercial subjects .
