REPOSITIONING HOME ECONOMICS EDUCATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS THROUGH CLOTHING AND TEXTILES ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Abstract

The study examined how to reposition Home Economics Education in tertiary institutions through clothing
and textiles entrepreneurial skills for economic empowerment in post covid-19 pandemic. Three specific
purposes and one hypothesis guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. 33
Lecturers and 416 students constituted the population and all were studied so no sampling. A structured
questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The instrument was face validated by 3
experienced lecturers and was tested for reliability . The reliability was established using test-retest
reliability method. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.84. This indicated high consistency reliability
of the instrument. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation and t-test. Findings showed eighteen
(18) skills that can be acquired through Clothing and Textiles in Home Economics. They include; fashion
designing, tie and dye/batik production, development and production of patterns, dressmaking among others.
Factors that impede Home Economics for skills acquisition include; lack of enough practical demonstration,
inadequate facilities among others. Eleven (11) ways were proffered on how to reposition Home economics
Education. Among them are; in-service training of lecturers and ensuring proper supervision of institution.
Based on the findings, recommendations were made.