CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Home economics is one of the vocational subjects
taught in Nigerian education system and society (Obanya, 2004). Okpala (2005)
defined Home Economics as a skill or rented decision making subject that equips
learners with skills and knowledge needed which will help them to be self
employed and at the same contribute effectively to socio-economics development
of the family and society. Home economics is the field of study concerned with
study of the relationship of people and aspects of their environment such as
clothing, housing and resources.
Home economics is taught at the junior
secondary school level of the Nigerian education programme (UBE) as an
integrated subject, which comprises of food and nutrition, clothing and
textiles, and Home management are taught as different subjects. The essence of
the separation according to (Anyakoha 2002) is to ensure specialization of
student in the different components of Home Economics which they have chosen
for study.
Ossai (2001) defined clothing and
textiles and education as the branch of Home Economics education that is
concerned with the acquisition and development of practical skill by
beneficiaries. He stated that clothing and textiles is one of the courses
offered in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Falana (2004) stated that clothing
is the general term for various covering designed to protect or adorn the human
body while textiles is the large umbrella that covers all things called fibre.
He defined fibre as a unit of fibre characterized by flexibility and fineness
with high ratio of length to thickness. The aim of clothing and textile is to
help learners acquired knowledge, skills and techniques for meeting personal
and society clothing needs. Clothing is one of the fundamental needs of man
which influences an individual health status and wellness.
Arubayi (2003) stated that one of
the objectives of clothing and textile curriculum at the secondary school is to
teach the learners how to strategically use resources at their disposal in the
environment to improve their home, family and societal clothing needs.
The curriculum also provides
students with apprenticeship in clothing textiles and fashion which if properly
coordinated will equip them with strategies for earning income in the future.
Clothing and textiles graduates could use the acquired skills n higher
education to get jobs in industries and other formal sectors of the economy.
Wanido in (Arubayi and Obunadike 2011) stated that Ihere is the tendency that the
rate of cultural diversity will be enhanced with the study of clothing and
textiles. Molokwu (2004) stated that gross domestic earnings of the Nigerian
nation have been boosted through massive increase in tourism and buying of
traditional Nigeria. Textiles and wears by foreigners.
These facts justify why the study
considers performance in clothing and textiles as very imperative to self
reliance and economic growth. The effectiveness and efficiency of clothing and
textiles will not be improved if the strategies are not developed. This study
intends to fill the research gap by analyzing issues in the lights of students
attitudinal strategies, instructional materials strategies and curriculum
related strategies for enhancing students performance in clothing and textiles.
Statement of the Problem
Currently the enrolment and students
interest in clothing and textiles as a subject n secondary school is low.
Lemichi in (Arubayi 2003) noted that students have no interest in clothing and
textiles as a subject. Attitudinal issue involved in home economics appear to
influence students enrolment in clothing and textiles as a subject and effects
performance in the subject similarly, most home economics teachers teach
clothing and textile as subject without the needed instructional material or
workshop facilities such as measuring scales, textbooks, equipped laboratory,
textiles materials. This as observed by (Mberengwe 2004) have reduced the
interest students in learning the subject clothings and textiles, the quality
of teachers, facilities and laboratories are highly inadequate and obsolete.
The curriculum contents of clothing
and textiles as a subject indicates that a serious disconnection exist between
clothing and textiles training in secondary school and the labour markt
(Arubayi 2010). This in sufficient academic preparation of students as reported
by (Arubayi 2009) have resulted in gross incompetence and turn out of
unemployable graduates of clothing and textiles student in the labour markets.
It is important that those problems
are addressed through the investigation of strategies for enhancing students
performance in clothing and textiles.
Purpose of the Study
The major objective of the study is
to investigate the strategies for enhancing student performance in clothing and
textiles in Ebonyi State specifically, the study will determine:-
1.
The number of
Home Economics teacher’s in secondary schools in Ebonyi State.
2.
The availability
of instructional materials for the teaching of clothing and textiles in
secondary schools in Ebonyi State.
3.
The availability
of Home Economics laboratory for teaching of clothing and textiles in secondary
school in Ebonyi State.
Research Questions
The following research questions are to guide the
study.
1.
What extent do
the number of Home Economics teacher enhance students performance in clothing and
textiles in Ebonyi State?
2.
What extent do
availability of Home Economics laboratories in clothing and textiles in Ebonyi
State?
3.
What extent do
availability of Home Economics laboratories enhance the performance of students
in clothing and textiles in Ebonyi State?
Significance
of the Study
The outcome of this study will be of great benefits to
the students, teachers, school administrators, regulatory bodies and policy
makers.
The first category of group to benefit from the study
are the students. They will find the study useful by using it as a reference
material and a basis for further research.
The second group to benefit from the study are the
teachers. The teachers will benefit by learning and using new strategies as
recommended by the study to improve on teaching and learning of clothing and
textiles education.
School administrators will also find the study very
useful. The school management will use the study as a reference in school
library. The knowledge provided by the study will also be used to upgrade the
curriculum contents of clothing and textile training in schools.
The other segments to benefit are the policy makers
and regulatory bodies. The regulatory authorities and policy makers will use
the outcome of the study to evolve strategies to ensure that adequate number of
teachers and infrastructures are provided. This will enhance learning and
teaching of the subject in schools.
Scope of the
Study
The study will cover all the Home Economics students
enrolled in the three public secondary schools in Izzi Local Area of Ebonyi
State during the 2011/2012 academic session.