The development of a Home Economics curriculum in a resource centre

Abstract

Although various research has been conducted on students with disability and their educational needs, less research has been focusing on the life skills, which the students acquire through formal education. This qualitative study focuses on the Secondary Education offered in Resource Centres (RCs) for students with special academic needs and investigates the life skills which the students acquire through Home Economics (HE), helping them to obtain independence. It is highly important to address the educational needs and social skills, of these students, through offering specifically designed curricula in RCs. Considering that there is no HE curriculum specifically designed for RCs, this study aimed to investigate the needs of adding a subdivision with the current HE curriculum, specifically for RCs. The research question is; “Is there a need for developing a HE curriculum for students attending RCs?” Different methodology was used to explore this matter, including interviews with a HE teacher teaching in a RC and with an Education Officer and a national and international curriculum documents research. Results revealed that in fact, the development of life and social skills is promoted through the subject of HE. However, it was noted that the programme students follow does not cover extensively the five literacies of HE. This means that the students are not being offered the required instruction to develop an array of independent living skills. Nonetheless, a specific HE curriculum for RCs was developed, in order to enhance HE education in RCs.

Although various research has been conducted on students with disability and their educational needs, less research has been focusing on the life skills, which the students acquire through formal education. This qualitative study focuses on the Secondary Education offered in Resource Centres (RCs) for students with special academic needs and investigates the life skills which the students acquire through Home Economics (HE), helping them to obtain independence. It is highly important to address the educational needs and social skills, of these students, through offering specifically designed curricula in RCs. Considering that there is no HE curriculum specifically designed for RCs, this study aimed to investigate the needs of adding a subdivision with the current HE curriculum, specifically for RCs. The research question is; “Is there a need for developing a HE curriculum for students attending RCs?” Different methodology was used to explore this matter, including interviews with a HE teacher teaching in a RC and with an Education Officer and a national and international curriculum documents research. Results revealed that in fact, the development of life and social skills is promoted through the subject of HE. However, it was noted that the programme students follow does not cover extensively the five literacies of HE. This means that the students are not being offered the required instruction to develop an array of independent living skills. Nonetheless, a specific HE curriculum for RCs was developed, in order to enhance HE education in RCs.