Does the concept of MBA, abbreviation for Master of Business Administration, pop in your head when you think about children education? Does this seem an impossible word clash between the adult and childrenâs worlds? Hardly so, as the widely-discussed need to introduce entrepreneurship education at an early age has sparked a genuine public interest in educating the future innovative thinkers.
School teaches kids many life skills. It teaches them how to count, read and write. But school doesnât teach them how to run a business. It is assumed that they will somehow just âknowâ those skills.
Good news to South Africans is that the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA is now available in the country through Muthelo College. Muthelo is a 100% black owned company based in South Africa with a focus in B-BBEE ratings, skills training and learner ship programs, ISO training and Consulting services.
The Kids MBA project is created with the purpose to develop children’s business and entrepreneurial skills, leadership potential and lateral thinking from the age of 11 and 16. âAs a society we still rely on kids learning business stewardship through trial and error. It is hardly surprising that so many promising new businesses failâ says prof. Mark Warson-Gandy, Founder of KidsMBA School in the UK.
âWe want kids with entrepreneurial aptitude to build businesses at an early age. â¨We are filling the gap in the market and changing the face of the future by providing internationally recognised entrepreneurial skills to children between the ages of 11 and 16. Kids need to grow up with the mind-set of a job creator and not a job seekerâ, says Mpho Mutavhatsindi, CEO at Muthelo College.
Leaders are those who connect the dots. Equally, youth entrepreneurship in Africa will be driven by the young minds who have the ability to connect the dots. There is thus a clear need to stimulate youth entrepreneurship in South Africa and KidsMBA might be one of the solutions.
Itâs not just about business creation. Entrepreneurial skills are also valued by employers. Entrepreneurship education programs aimed at secondary school students have been shown to reduce the risk that a young person will become unemployed later in life.
KidsMBA also fosters other skills and behaviours beyond just learning. The course promotes the ability to identify problems and proactively find creative solutions. It advocates self-reliance, confidence, taking responsibility, speaking clearly and effectively, working as a member of a team, critically assessing the value of information, and sharing ideas in a persuasive and engaging manner.
âChildren are the future economy drivers. Therefore, it is within our interest to equip them with entrepreneurial skills so that business practice is not a foreign concept to them in the future. Earlier interventions can develop non-cognitive skills which are key to entrepreneurial success such as creativity, persistence and communicationâ, adds Mpho.
All KidsMBA participants will have 12 months access to the Business Builder Software which will assist and guide them on how to run their business administration with ease. The best operational business will be awarded with a R70Â 000 cash prize sponsored by Muthelo College.
