Philippine society has been unkind to women, especially students in four colleges, a majority of who, a survey bared, haven’t been trained to develop entrepreneurship.

The survey of 126 students by General Electric Co.’s bank in the Philippines and Let’s Go Foundation cited specifically that 78 percent, or 98 women students, have not been exposed to formal business management or entrepreneurship courses.

Let’s Go Foundation executive director Jay Bernardo said, however, that this only reveals that the student of four colleges included in the survey – Assumption, Miriam College, St. Scholastica’s and College of the Holy Spirit – experience limited knowledge, understanding and experience in entrepreneurship.

The survey also confirms that such a spirit and skills are developed in the family, Bernardo told a audience of students and teachers at the Makati Sports Club on Wednesday’s presentation of the survey results.

Indeed, while the sample size is small, the survey showed that nearly all of the students said their families remain a significant influence in any business idea or endeavor.

Teachers as influence were identified by only five of those polled, mainly freshmen and sophomores in these colleges.

Senior student Erica Selinas of Miriam college, however, said that her selling of accessories to fellow students and school employees were greatly influenced by her class in marketing.

Selinas used an online social networking community to promote the products she has been selling for a year now.

Still, the finding on entrepreneurial inclination, when younger, revealed that 35 percent said it wasn’t the case, while 65 percent said they did but mostly in the form selling something.

But this didn’t significantly influence their plans after graduation: a majority see themselves working for a for-profit company, while going onto business or self-employment was only the second top answer.

Bernardo said, “The family still plays a significant role in the development of the entrepreneurial mindset of their child.”

“Their support for their child’s endeavors is integral to the future success of the students. As such, parents must be involved in their child’s education,” he noted, citing the sixth of eight recommendations culled from the survey results.

Survey results confirmed such a view, as 28 percent said they had both parents as entrepreneurs. Still, a majority, or 47 percent, said not one of their parents was engaged in business.

Still, a majority said the family remains the top factor that would influence them to start their own business, followed by a desire to put up one, the need for more money, and lastly, at the prodding or influence of friends.

Seventy-one percent of those surveyed consider themselves belonging to the broad middle class as their socioeconomic level from the time they entered high school.

Only 26 percent said they came from the upper-income strata while the rest said they came from the bottom poor.

Only 22 percent said they had previous participation in formal business management, while 78 percent had none prior to entering college.

Still, a majority, or 90 percent, of those surveyed are open to learning more about entrepreneurship.

To this, Let’s Go recommends that the colleges focus on developing an integrated curriculum that would help create an atmosphere for women to go into business after graduation.

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