INTRODUCTION

This textbook is part of school curriculum reform in Rwanda in particular how the
curriculum is taught. It is hoped that this change will make what you learn in school
more useful both at school and when you leave school.

In the past, the main reason for schooling was to obtain knowledge – that is facts
and ideas about each subject. But nowadays, the main reason due to changes that
are happening in the environment and the job market is becoming more competitive.
Therefore, you should be able to use the knowledge you will obtain from this text
book to develop competencies. These competencies include, ability to think for
yourself, ability to communicate with others and to explain what you have learnt, as
well as being creative in developing your own ideas, not just following those of the
Teacher and the textbook. In this textbook, different approaches are used to help
you to develop competences and make this textbook user friendly. Among these
approaches are the following:

Activity-based learning 

These activities present you with instructions to follow that will help you to learn
and discover others for yourself. You already have knowledge and many ideas
based on the experiences you have had and your life within community. Some of
the activities, therefore, require you to use the knowledge and ideas you already
have.

In using this book, therefore, it is essential that you do all the activities and follow
all the instructions. You will not learn very well unless you complete these activities
provided. They are the most important part of the Textbook.

In some ways this makes learning more of a challenge. It is usually challenging
to think for yourself than to copy what the Teacher tells you. But if you take up
this challenge you will become a better person and become more productive and
successful in your life.

Group work

You can also learn a lot from other people in your class. If you have a problem, it
can often be solved by sharing it with others. Many of the activities in the book,
therefore, involve discussion. Your teacher will help to form and organize these
groups in a conducive learning environment facing each other. You cannot discuss
properly unless you are facing each other.

Research

One of the objectives of the new curriculum is to help you discover for yourself.
Some activities, therefore, require you to do research using Textbooks in the library,
the internet if your school has access, or any other source such as newspapers and
magazines etc. This means that you will develop skills of learning for yourself that
can help you both when still in school and after school. Your teacher will help in
case your school does not have a fully equipped library or internet.

Skills lab

Entrepreneurship subject is more practical than theoretical. That is why it requires
time for skills lab which is a regular time on normal time table when students are
required to complete learning activities working in manageable groups. 

During skills lab activity students are given an opportunity to talk more and get
more involved in the lesson than teachers. Students receive constructive feedback
on work done (Teacher gives quality feedback on student presentations)

The Skills Lab prepares students to complete portfolio assignments on their
own after classes. So, classroom activity should connect directly to the portfolio
assignment and during the skills lab the teacher makes sure that he/she links the
unit with the portfolio assignment, student’s business club and back home projects.

Icons

To guide you, each activity in the book is marked by a symbol or icon to show you
what kind of activity it is. The icons are as follows:

             Thinking icon/Introductory activity

This indicates thinking for yourself or groups discussion. You are expected to use
your own knowledge or experience, or think about what you have read in the book,
and answer questions individually or as a group activity..

This icon reminds you to link your previous knowledge with the topic you are going
to learn. As a student feel free to express what you already know about the topic.
What is most important is not giving the right answer but the contribution you are
making towards what you are going to learn.

Some activities require you to complete them in your exercise book or any other
book. It is time for you to show if you have understood the lesson by answering the
questions provided. 

This icon indicates a practical activity, such as a role play to solve a problem or
complete an activity, participating in a debate and following the instructions
provided by the teacher. These activities will help you to obtain practical skills
which you can use even after school.

This icon requires you to write down the responses to activities including
experiments, case studies and other activities which assess the attainment of the
competences. Tutors are expected to observe the changes in you as a student
teacher..