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This study examines the influence of high school accounting instruction on the academic performance of first-year financial accounting students at a rural comprehensive university. In the context of South African higher education, students frequently gain admission to accounting diploma or degree programs without prior secondary school accounting instruction, prompting questions regarding the impact of previous accounting knowledge on university performance. Current research presents inconclusive findings, with certain studies demonstrating no significant association between high school accounting experience and university achievement, whereas others indicate a favourable correlation. Significantly, a research gap exists for rural comprehensive institutions, which cater to a heterogeneous student body and are inadequately represented in existing studies. This study recruited all first-year accounting students at a rural institution to ascertain the correlation between high school accounting education and university performance. The results suggest that past study of accounting in high school does not significantly influence students' success in first-year accounting courses, indicating that high school accounting knowledge does not immediately improve academic results at the university level. Nonetheless, the data indicate that students who excelled in high school accounting are likely to also succeed in their first year of university accounting, implying that high school achievement may be a valuable predictor of university performance, even if it does not directly affect overall outcomes. The study's shortcomings encompass its concentration on a singular rural institution and the omission of second- and third-year students, so constraining the extent and generalisability of the findings. These constraints underscore the necessity for future investigations encompassing multiple institutions, longitudinal monitoring of students' academic advancement, and comprehensive variable analysis to elucidate the intricate factors affecting student success in rural South African higher education, especially within accounting programs.

This paper investigated the financial management practices among Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Thulamela Local Municipality using a qualitative approach. The research focused on a sample of forty-eight respondents from the informal sector, which was deemed representative of the SMME landscape.  Interviews were conducted with SMME owners, guided by an interview framework, and recorded for transcription and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that competition is perceived as the primary cause of business failures; however, inadequate financial management emerged as a significant underlying issue. The study emphasizes the urgent need for intervention from government, banks, and academic institutions to offer financial management training and improve access to funding for SMMEs. Recommended actions include the establishment of workshops and seminars designed to enhance financial literacy among business owners. Such training would provide them with essential accounting and budgeting skills, ultimately enabling them to meet loan requirements from financial institutions and reducing the risk of cash flow issues and business failure.

As a means of seeking more effective ways to curb the unemployment levels in Sub-Saharan countries, governments are beginning to include the development of the manufacturing sector in their country's strategies, and Lesotho is not an exception. This paper aims to determine the role of various institutional and individual factors which when present and collaborating in an entrepreneurial ecosystem can contribute to the successful growth of MSMEs operating in the manufacturing sector. This paper is also aimed at developing a conceptual framework suitable for the growth of these MSMEs in Lesotho by linking concepts of industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study utilised a qualitative exploratory research approach and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. In total, 12 candidates from government, financial, and educational institutions as well as the media were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The main findings of the study demonstrate that a suitable ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in a country such as Lesotho should consist of policies and regulations that support and encourage financial institutions to assist MSMEs. Government regulated media institutions disseminate regular information relating to existing policies, regulations, and opportunities and educational institutions provide adequate skills and knowledge to enhance an individual’s entrepreneurial alertness, creativity, and innovativeness. An inclusive ecosystem for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in Lesotho should also involve the collaboration of MSMEs with larger firms and the establishment of independent regulated quality assurance institutions to assure the quality of products and increase customer confidence.