The impact of previous knowledge and experience on the entrepreneurial attitudes of Grade 12 learners

* To whom correspondence should be addressed According to the 2003 edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (a report which examines the relation of a country's economic growth to the level of entrepreneurial activity), South Africa has a poorly developed entrepreneurial culture, characterized by a shortage of entre-preneurs and negative attitudes towards pursuing entrepreneurial careers. Against the background of the country's worsening unemployment problem and the need for economic development, a stronger entrepreneurial culture, that produces more entrepreneurs, businesses and employment opportunities to contribute to economic growth than at present, is critical. Entrepreneurship education can contribute to the development of a stronger entrepreneurial culture. In this regard the outcome of the learning area, Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), as part of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (Grades R–9) requiring that the learner be able to demonstrate entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and attitudes should support the development of a stronger entrepreneurial culture. This research examined the impact of relevant previous knowledge and experience of Grade 12 learners on their entrepreneurial attitudes. Although these learners had not been exposed to Curriculum 2005, their training in commercial subjects as well as previous business-related experience appear to have created a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, as 65 % of the respondents indicated that they would like to start their own business one day