Teaching and management of home economics in selected Basic schools in Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province of Zambia

The purpose of the study was to investigate the teaching and management of Home
Economics in Basic Schools in Mufulira district. The case study design was used
utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.A total sample of 150 respondents,
was selected from Mufulira, Solwezi, Kitwe and Lusaka districts. The last three
districts outside the Copperbelt Province were specifically for former pupils in Mission Schools during the colonial era. Data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions. The quantitative data collected
were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while data from
semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions were analyzed qualitatively
by coding and grouping similar themes together into groups using constant
comparative techniques.
Ministry of Education officials, head teachers, Home Economics teachers, parents
and learners recognize the importance of the subject because among other things, it
imparts life long skills in learners. However, it was discovered that Home Economics as a subject had been integrated into science at Middle Basic and only taught on its own as a subject at Upper Basic school level. It was also discovered that the
Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) through the Ministry of Education is no longer
funding practical subjects including Home Economics as it used to do in the past. It
stopped funding practical subjects in 1995.
However, it was revealed that the Ministry of Education did give grants for Home
Economics which the schools in respective districts had to share according to their
plans. The funds were inadequate and were usually sent too late to the districts and
affected schools. It was revealed that the little resources given to Home Economics
teachers for upper basic pupils were ably utilized. The study revealed that among
the major constraints facing the learning and teaching of Home Economics in Basic
schools of Mufulira district were, lack of infrastructure, equipment, financial and
material support from the Ministry of Education.