Problems and Challenges Experienced by Home Science Teachers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Home Science integrates the application of various science and humanities to improve the human environment, family nutrition, Home management, Child development, and Textile and Clothing. Since Home Science is a broad subject area, to develop this subject the teachinglearning resources should be increased and enhanced. In our country, due to the lack of awareness of the subject, the teachers who are involved in teaching Home Science have faced various problems and challenges in developing this subject at the school level. This study highlights the problems and challenges experienced by Home Science teachers in government schools in Sri Lanka. The sample was collected randomly and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data. The findings show that there are several problems and challenges experienced by Home Science teachers, most of the problems are related to resource availability for teaching-learning activities of Home Science. Therefore, the teachers face difficulties to improve Home Science education at the school level. The study found that nearly 70% of teachers faced difficulties in teaching textiles and clothing because of lack of teaching - learning resources. Further, the findings reveal that the teachers face challenges related to a wide range of syllabus, assessment procedures, challenges with instructional resources, and other general challenges such as lack of motivation, and lack of interest of students in the subject. These problems and challenges will affect the quality of teaching and learning activities at the school level. So the present study aims to find the problems and solutions to improve Home Science Education at the school level.