Attitude of Female Students Toward Home Economics Education in Benue State Secondary Schools

This study explored the attitudes of female secondary school students toward Home Economics education in Benue State, within Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone. Although Home Economics encompasses practical life skills relevant to nutrition, family management, and entrepreneurship, enrolment among female students has declined in several North Central states over the past decade. The study employed a descriptive survey design, with a sample of 350 female students selected from 14 secondary schools through stratified random sampling. A 40-item Likert-scale questionnaire titled the Home Economics Attitude Scale (HEAS) was used for data collection. Findings revealed that the majority of students held moderately positive attitudes toward the subject but expressed concerns about its perceived low social prestige and limited career prospects. Teacher enthusiasm, modern teaching methods, and the relevance of content to daily life were identified as key factors promoting positive attitudes. The study recommends curriculum enrichment to incorporate entrepreneurship and food science modules, career counseling sessions highlighting pathways in dietetics, hotel management, and fashion design, and the use of participatory teaching methods that connect content to real-world contexts. School counselors should also actively address gender-based misconceptions about the subject's value. These findings offer practical implications for improving female participation in vocational education across Nigeria's North Central zone. Keywords: Home Economics, female students, attitude, Benue State, vocational education.