HOME ECONOMICS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN HOME ECONOMICS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN HOME ECONOMICS

1. Dietetics: A dietitian works in hospitals, helping with diets for the treatment and prevention of diseases.
2. Nutritionist: A nutritionist can work in a health department, schools, hospitals and industries. They ensure nutritious and safe meals are available at all time.
3. Food Service personnel: People in this career can work as catering managers, supervisors, stewards etc. depending on their qualifications. They work in hotels, hospitals, schools, airlines etc.
4. Catering: A caterer cooks for people in boarding schools, hospitals, hotels, offices etc.
5. Hotel Manager: This involves running a hotel as business. It is also called institution management.
6. Teaching/ Lecturing: Teaches in various areas grades such as primary, secondary or tertiary institutions.
7. Researchers: Researchers work on food and nutrition problems; they discover new ways of planning and cooking foods.
8. Food Technology: A food technologist applies the principles of foods, science, and engineering in the development, production, processing, packaging and distribution of foods.
9. Designing: Persons in this career create new designs for garments (fashion)

Home Economics Career Requirements

Home Economics careers require education at different levels of education. Such as:

1. Senior Secondary Schools: Boys and girls can obtain credits or distinctions in any Home Economics Subjects like Food and nutrition, Clothing and textile, Home management, etc. at this level with this qualification, people can obtain entry-level jobs such as attendants, waiters or waitresses, sales person, etc. such entry-level requires on-the-job training.

2. College of Education: Studying in this college is usually three years duration. The Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) certificate is awarded at the end of the study. These colleges offer Home Economics.

3. Monotechnics and Polytechnics: They offer programs on the area of Home Economics such as food and nutrition, catering, etc. and award National Diploma (ND) after the completion of two years and later (HND) Higher National Diploma after two years additional programme.

4. Universities: They offer:

(i) 4 years Bachelor of Science (BS.c) or Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) in any area of Home Economics.

(ii) 1-2 years master’s degree and 3-4 years Doctorate degree (Ph.D) in any area of Home Economics.

EVALUATION

1. Mention five Home economics related subjects.
2. Mention any two certificates that can be awarded after studying Home Economics

IMPORTANCE OF HOME ECONOMICS TO THE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND NATION

1. Home Economics teaches people how to live a good, healthy and happy life in the Family, community, nation and the world.
2. Home Economics prepares boys and girls for home making.
3. It teaches people how to care for themselves.
4. It teaches people how to care for their homes.
5. It teaches family members how to get along with one another in the family and society.
6. It teaches people how to spend their money wisely
7. It teaches people how to plan, cook, serve and eat good food.
8. It teaches people how to choose, make, wear and maintain their clothing.
9. It teaches the family, nation and individual how use what they have to get what they want.
10. It teaches the individuals to be self-reliant.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Define Home Economics
2. State five major areas in Home Economics
3. Mention five career opportunities in Home Economics
4. State three subjects required to study Home Economics in the university.
5. Enumerate the importance of Home Economics to the family, community and you.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. ——- is a career in Home economics (a) accountancy (b) banker (c) hotel manager (d) lawyer
2. The Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) is awarded at ——– (a) secondary schools (b) universities (c) colleges of education (d) primary schools.
3. Home Economics drew knowledge from the following subjects except (a) mathematics (b) agricultural science (c) Christian religious studies (d) Physics.
4. ——– applies the principles of foods, science, and engineering in the development, production, processing, packaging and distribution of foods. (a) Researcher (b) Teacher (c) Nutritionist (d) Food technologist.
5. —— subject teaches people how to spend their money wisely (a) Biology (b) English language (c) French (d) Home economics.

THEORY

1. State four importance of Home Economics each to the family, nation and individual,
2. State three career opportunities in home economics.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Read Home economics and national development from Home Economics New Concept for Junior Secondary Schools Popoola O.O. 9pages 6-10)