Report by Francis Mensah ( Adwenpa-Hene)
It has been highly recommended that parents and second-cycle institution management encourage their children to study home economics.
Since there are numerous opportunities in the field of vocational studies, Home Economics teachers and their students at Oda Senior High School (ODASCO) in the Birim Central municipality of the Eastern region have advised parents to encourage their wards to pursue vocational studies courses in SHS if they are interested in doing so.
Mrs. Oye Anan Nunu, the Home Economics teacher at Oda Senior High School, highlighted that vocational studies offer a wealth of opportunities for students who pursue courses. Regrettably, most parents dissuade their children who show interest in pursuing vocational studies courses at the senior high school level.
In her opinion, some people look down on the course with the wrong perception that students who pursue it are those who did not perform well at the basic education level and therefore study the course in order to have a formal secondary school education.
She lamented that those who practiced Home Economics were discouraged because of how they were treated by others due to the perception they had about the course, hence the need to sensitise the public to the importance of Home Economics and the Home Economics profession.
Speaking to the Daily Searchlight at the final-year home economics students’ “Food Production and Fashion Design” event, Mrs. Oye indicated that people perceived home economics as a course that was about only cooking, sewing, and maintaining the home.
She refuted these notions, arguing that home economics encompassed more than just sewing, cooking, and housekeeping. Drawing on a variety of academic fields, she explained how home economics contributed to the attainment of the best possible and sustainable living standards for people as individuals, families, and communities.
Challenges
Mrs. Oye Anan Nunu, who is the immediate past Head of Department (HoD) for Home Economics, stated that the department lacks the necessary equipment to make teaching and learning easier for the students and the teachers.
She also makes a call for intervention from the government and other interested parties, including parents.
Notes from the Programme Organiser
The programme’s organiser, Madam Victoria Opokua, stated that the goal of the event is to showcase the amazing work of students who have been sufficiently prepared not only for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) but also for entering the entrepreneurial world.
In addition to complimenting the students on their delicious meals and their fashion designs, Madam Victoria Opokua expressed her hope that they can start their own businesses before they pursue their education to the tertiary level. She also asked the parents to help their children by providing them with all the tools they need to succeed in the course.
Students’ Remarks
Some of the final-year students in the home economics class expressed how excited they were to be studying the course in school.
They contend that the home economics course is a branch of academia and a curriculum area connected to everyday living in households and wider societal arenas.
They indicated that the details of the academic discipline entailed project management, entrepreneurship and small business development, personal finance, child development and guidance, and consumer education.
Fashion Design and Food Production Exhibition
Final-year home economics students at Oda Senior High School (ODASCO) stunned audiences with their inventive fashion designs and culinary creations at a recent mini-annual exhibition, showcasing their creativity and talent.
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the focal point of attention was Oda Senior High School (ODASCO). The occasion, which fulfilled the examination criteria for the “Home Economics” course, demonstrated the students’ aptitude in both food production and fashion design.
Dynamic fashion products and food varieties by final-year students of the home economics class were showcased to demonstrate some of the things they had learned for their 3 years of study.
The Fashion Design and Food Production Exhibition offered a thrilling experience to fashion lovers who found themselves spoilt for choice on delectable and novelty fashion designs including wedding gowns, suiting designs, casuals, children’s wear, and jump suits, as well as accessories including bead works, hats, and footwear.
Some innovative foods that were on display were traditional dishes and continental dishes.
The diverse audience praised the students’ talent and dedication to pushing the boundaries of fashion design and food production.
