Entrepreneurial Inclination among Senior Secondary Students: Examining the Role of School Syllabus

India’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem and digital transformation are influencing career aspirations at increasingly younger ages. While entrepreneurship has been extensively examined at the university level, limited research explores how senior secondary students perceive startups and how school education shapes their entrepreneurial thinking. This study investigates the inclination of Class XI and XII students toward entrepreneurship by analysing their motivations, awareness levels, perceived barriers, and views on curriculum support. Using a survey-based research design, the study examines whether students view entrepreneurship as a primary career choice, a supplementary pathway, or merely an aspirational idea. It further evaluates how subjects such as Business Studies, Economics, and Information Technology contribute to entrepreneurial confidence, and whether classroom learning translates into practical readiness. The findings reveal distinct patterns in students’ career preferences, digital orientation, and expectations from schools, while also highlighting notable gaps between intention and institutional support.

Youth Entrepreneurship, Senior Secondary Education, Startup Aspirations, Curriculum Design, Digital Entrepreneurship, Experiential Learning

1. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Central Board of Secondary Education. (2023). Senior secondary curriculum framework. CBSE. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. (2024). Startup India annual report. Government of India. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Fayolle, A., & Gailly, B. (2015). The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial attitudes and intention. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(1), 75–93. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. (2023). Global entrepreneurship monitor global report. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ministry of Education. (2020). National education policy 2020. Government of India. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Neck, H. M., Greene, P. G., & Brush, C. G. (2014). Teaching entrepreneurship: A practice-based approach. Edward Elgar Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. OECD. (2017). Entrepreneurship at a glance. OECD Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study