Analysis of the relevance of basic electricity to Home Economics Students in Technical Colleges in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the relevance of basic electricity to home economics students in technical colleges in Edo state, Nigeria. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, three research questions were raised while one hypothesis was formulated. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population and sample of the study consists of one hundred and forty (140) NTC II and III Home Economics students in four technical colleges in Edo State. A four point rating scale questionnaire titled Relevance of Basic Electricity to Home Economics Students Questionnaire (RBEHSQ)was the instrument used to collect data from the respondents. The face and content validity of the instrument was ascertained by two lecturers in department of vocational and technical education, and one Lecturer in department of measurement and evaluation, faculty of education, University of Benin, Benin city, Nigeria. The split half technique was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The two sets of scores obtained were correlated using Pearson Product Moment Corrolation Coefficient (PPMCC) and the process yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.71 which means that the instrument was reliable. Mean ( ) and standard deviation (SD) were used to answer research questions 2 and 3 while research question 1 was answered with simple percentage. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance with chi-square. Findings revealed that Home economics students are much aware of the relevance of basic electricity to home economics, students are moderately familiar with the basic electricity aspect of home economics programme and that the extent to which students are acquainted with basic electricity skills relevant to home economics is low. Tested hypothesis revealed that there is no significant difference between the perception of male and female students of the relevance of basic electricity to home economics. Based on the findings, it was recommended that efforts should be made by home economic lecturers to relate basic electricity to home economics so as to enable students become aware of the relationship between subjects, educational planners and school management should make adequate provision for necessary facilities for the teaching of basic electricity. School management should also ensure that only qualified lecturers are employed to teach home economics and that lecturers on their part should handle the basic electricity with all seriousness in such a way that would increase students’ interest and acquire skills in basic electricity.