JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE EDUCATION (JORISE)
Influence Of Plant Classification Knowledge on the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Senior Secondary School Students In Kogi State, Nigeria
Abstract
Socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and poverty highlight the need to integrate entrepreneurship into secondary school curricula. This study investigated the influence of plant classification knowledge on the entrepreneurial orientation of senior secondary school students in Kogi State, Nigeria. A mixed-method research design was employed, involving 712 students and 14 Biology teachers selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using the Questionnaire on Plant Classification and Entrepreneurial Orientation (QPCEO) and the Teacher Informant Interview Guide (TIGPCEO) with reliability coefficients of 0.81 and 0.64, respectively. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis, and Ordinal Logistic Regression analyses were used at a 0.05 significance level to analyse the data obtained. Results revealed that plant classification knowledge significantly influenced students’ entrepreneurial orientation (χ² = 27.59, p < 0.05; β = 0.473, p < 0.05), with 60.9% of proficient students demonstrating higher entrepreneurial tendencies. Qualitative findings confirmed that hands-on taxonomy activities enhanced students’ agripreneurial interests. The study concludes that plant classification fosters innovation, self-reliance, and economic empowerment among students. It recommends integrating entrepreneurship-based projects, teacher training, and school–community collaborations to strengthen the practical and economic relevance of plant classification in secondary education.
