Effect of Home Economics Education on Sustainable Household Resource Management Practices Among Secondary School Students in Zamfara State

Home Economics education equips students with essential life skills for managing household resources sustainably, yet the extent to which formal instruction translates to practical household behaviours in North West Nigeria has received limited scholarly attention. This study examined the effect of Home Economics education on sustainable household resource management practices among secondary school students in Zamfara State. A causal-comparative design was employed, comparing resource management practices of students who had undergone formal Home Economics instruction with those who had not. A total of 240 students were selected from six secondary schools across three local government areas using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and a resource management practice checklist. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test. Results indicated that students with formal Home Economics education demonstrated significantly better practices in food conservation, water management, energy saving, and household budgeting compared to those without such instruction. Gender differences were observed, with female students recording higher practice scores. The study recommends the mandatory inclusion of Home Economics in the junior secondary school curriculum in Zamfara State and investment in qualified Home Economics teachers for rural schools. Keywords: Home Economics education, resource management, secondary school, Zamfara State, sustainability