Assessment of the Adequacy of Home Economics Curriculum in Developing Practical Life Skills Among Secondary School Girls in Osun State

Home Economics education serves as a vehicle for practical life skills development with direct implications for household welfare and economic self-reliance, and its curriculum adequacy in meeting contemporary skill demands for secondary school girls in South West Nigeria requires examination. This study assessed the adequacy of the Home Economics curriculum in developing practical life skills among Senior Secondary School girls in Ile-Ife and Osogbo Local Government Areas, Osun State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with questionnaires administered to 120 Home Economics teachers, 40 students, and 20 parents. The instrument assessed curriculum content coverage of nutrition, textile skills, household management, and financial literacy. Results showed that nutrition and food preparation content was rated as adequately delivered by 72.5 percent of teachers but lacked practical cooking sessions in 53.3 percent of schools due to absent kitchenette facilities. Financial literacy content was absent or minimally covered in 80.0 percent of curriculum guides. Textile and clothing skills were adequately resourced in only 41.7 percent of schools. Parents rated practical skills preparedness of graduates as poor in 62.5 percent of responses. The study concludes that Home Economics curriculum in Osun State secondary schools is constrained by facilities gaps and outdated content. Recommendations include curriculum revision to include financial literacy, provision of practical skills facilities, and development of performance-based assessment in Home Economics.

Keywords: Home Economics curriculum, practical life skills, secondary school girls, Osun State, curriculum adequacy