International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Challenges Encountered by Students in the Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Skills in Home Economics Education in Edo and Delta State

Dr. (Mrs) B.E. Uwameiye

Senior Lecturer, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Ambrose Alli University, EKpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract:-This paper examined challenges encountered by students in the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills in Home Economics Education in Edo and Delta State of Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted in this study. 82 final year students in the tertiary institutions participated in the study. Three research questions guided the study. A self-structured 21-item questionnaire was administered to elicit responses for the data. The Mean and Rank Order was utilized to rank the challenges encountered by students in Home Economics Education in the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills, in order of gravity. Findings revealed that: school challenges preventing students in the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills in Home Economics Education are; The time allotted for practical courses as inadequate, facilities available are inadequate and that learning resources are obsolete. Students’ personal challenges indicated by respondents include: Students have low interest in Home Economics Education, financial demand to study Home Economics Education is too high, no good motivation to acquire entrepreneurial opportunities in Home Economics Education. Teacher challenges indicated by respondents include; Methods utilized for teaching Home Economics Education courses are uninteresting, lecturers do not utilize modern learning methods to teach practical courses in Home Economics Education, lecturers utilize lecture methods to teach practical courses. This paper recommends that meaningful intervention will require that all stakeholders in education look inward and address these challenges; by adequately funding, monitoring and supervising the teaching and learning of Home Economics Education programmes in all tertiary institutions of learning in Edo State.

Key Words: Challenges, Skills, Entrepreneurial, Employment, Education

I. INTRODUCTION

A nation geared towards industrial progress must be ready to give its people a functional education that can equip them for appropriate integration into the society. The equipping of graduates with appropriate skill for self-sustenance has become imperative in Nigeria as a result of the current unemployment situation in the country. For instance, Obiesesun (2010) asserted that 80% of youths in Nigerians are unemployed. Unemployment as a known social problem is more prevalent among the higher education graduates and encourages high rate of crime.