Can we educate children towards becoming educated consumers? : a teacher’s perspective

Abstract

As we live in a consumerist society, it is important for consumers to be well educated as critical citizens and social agents in order to make informed choices and improve their quality of life. This is intended to be beneficial and positive for themselves, their families and for society at large. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the role of critical Consumer Education in schools and whether it is educating students to be wise and responsible consumers or else simply to go headlong on the path of blindingly following Capitalist consumer diktats. Such a study aims at integrating Consumer Education in Primary Schools and also highlights the importance of addressing issues that consumers face in the modern consumerist society to students. A qualitative methodological approach was carried out to help collect in-depth data for this dissertation, which included interviews with 9 Home Economics Professionals. The findings provided evidence that Maltese children lack the necessary awareness, critical skills and attitudes to deal with various consumer-related issues. The main conclusions are that through the necessary awareness, effective teacher training, teaching methods and resources, teachers can easily integrate Consumer Education in the Primary School years. This will help students gain the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are needed to become critical consumers and make wise decisions in today’s consumerist society.