STUDENTS’ ENROLMENT IN HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION

Abstract

Home Economics is an interdisciplinary field of study which helps families and individuals to understand and adapt to the effects of social, economic, cultural and technological changes. These potentials are not fully harnessed for national development due to the poor representation of the course in tertiary institutions. The study examined the students’ enrolment in Home Economics departments in Colleges of Education. It was carried out on two hundred and forty (240) students in chosen Colleges of Education. The study employed the use of descriptive survey research design. A structured questionnaire with reliability index 0.877 was used for data collection. Three research questions were analysed descriptively. Findings revealed that gender, academic performance, subjects offered in secondary school, students’ career aspirations and goals, difficulty/academic stress, status of Home Economics, cost of acquiring equipments, availability and utilisation of laboratory equipment, overall perception about the course and its relationship with other courses and profession were some of the factors responsible for students’ choice of Home Economics as a course. Parents also played significant roles in students’ choice of Home Economics as a course. Preferred course of study for children/ward and the cost of Home Economics in Colleges of Education were the parental and socioeconomic factors influencing students’ choice of Home Economics. It was recommended that preconceptions that are usually baseless and fictions need to be changed through public enlightenment and orientation programmes and that exhibitions and fields trip should be used to encourage students to study Home Economics.