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TEACHERS PERCEPTION OF CHALLENGES OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF HOME ECONOMICS

ABSTRACT

This study examined the teachers’ perception of challenges of effective teaching and learning of home economics in schools and colleges in Imo State, Nigeria. The study came as a result of poor performance of students in Home economics subject in secondary schools as well as the bad attitudes of students in learning the subject and if nothing is done, the subject may go extinct and be removed from curricula. The research posed three research questions, which guided the study. Data were collected through the questionnaires were analysed through percentage analysis techniques. Based on the result of the findings, recommendations were made in respect to motivating students’ interest. Some of the findings include that inadequate availability of instructional material is a pitfall to both the students and the teachers. Most teachers do not have the necessary qualifications and as well lack the competence to use the available instructional materials.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background to the Study

Home economics is one of the vocational and technical subjects taught at in both secondary and higher institutions in Nigeria and is a compulsory part of the curriculum in the secondary schools. It is taught as a fundamental subject and comprises food and nutrition, clothing and textile. The importance of exposing learners to home economics curriculum for individual and societal development has been widely acknowledge and revealed that the knowledge and skills gained with home economics make a considerable contribution to young people’s personal and social development as well as prepare them for the world of works in a wide range of area. It provides learners with opportunities to develop knowledge and in both theoretical and practical aspects of livelihood (Federal Ministry of Education, 2012).

The introduction of formal education in Nigeria has partially neglected vocational and technical education. Despite all efforts made to recognize it, yet little or no attention was given to it. For many years, there was no cogent development in the area of vocational education until 1981, when the National policy on Education was published. Due to this partial neglect in our educational system, vocational and technical education has suffered a major decline in quality, policy and directive in the country. Osuala (1999) emphasized that the term either technical or vocational education has no single universally accepted definition but what is common is the various definitions is its goals and objectives that remain the same. Technical education has been defined as a phase of education designed to help the people, students and learners to acquire technical or manipulative skills required in industrial arts or applied sciences.

Nigeria, as a developing country has myriads of problems. Besides political problems leading to political assassination and post-election crisis, the frightening dimension is youth restiveness. The youth are restive because majority of them are idle, which confirms the adage that says, “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop”. The youth are demonstrating this by engaging in criminal activities, while the females are into high level prostitution, trafficking in hard drugs etc. This is because education, produce an individual who is honest, respectful and cooperative and who would conform to the social norm.They youth should be empowered with vocational and technical skills which would make themself-reliant or become employable in different sectors of the economy.

Although, the in south eastern states in Nigeria are regarded as hardworking people and are business oriented but the vocational and technical knowledge is hugely lacking in them and therefore the introduction of home economics as a subject in secondary school must be adopted in the state. Because of this, the teaching of Home Economics education becomes very important to meet the requirements of the people in the south eastern states particularly in Imo State where this study will be carried out. At the national level, there is a clarion call for vocation and technical education, because this is utilitarian type of education designed to develop skills, abilities, understanding, attitude, appreciation of hard work and to impact the knowledge so gained in useful and productive ventures. As in other areas of vocational and technical education, the teaching home economics exposes the individuals to experiences that provide the manipulative, cognitive and attitudinal skills that would make them acquire all round education. This study aimed at identifying the teachers’ perception of challenges of effective teaching and learning of home economics in schools and colleges in Imo State, Nigeria.