Human Resources and Performance in Home Economics Among Basic Secondary School Students in Umuahia Education Zone, Abia State

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the adequacy of human resources for enhancing basic education level student’s performance in Home Economics in Umuahia Education Zone, Abia State. One research question and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was employed.  The area of the study was Umuahia education zone.  The population of the study was 57 teachers of Home Economics in Basic II Level (JS II) from the 34 public Secondary Schools offering Home Economics. The sample of the study was 50 teachers drawn through stratified random sampling technique. An instrument named Human Resources for Home Economics Performance questionnaire (HRFHEPQ) was used to generate data. Three experts validated the instrument. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was .86. This was determined by Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula. Mean and standard deviations were used to answer the research question while regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The findings revealed that human resources were inadequate in schools and also have significant relationship with the enhancement of students’ performance in Home Economics. It was recommended among others that the State Government should ensure the provision of adequate human resources for teaching and learning of Home Economics education in basic level. Government should train more professionals and specialist in areas of Home Economics by encouraging in-service training, short term programme and leave of absence for further studies.