ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of home environment on the students’ interest and academic achievement in Home Economics in Upper Basic Schools in Abia State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Eight research questions were raised and Eight null hypotheses were formulated for the study. The population of the study was made up of 10,045 which comprised 4,683 male and 5,362 female students of Junior Secondary school II in Abia State. The sample size for the study was 400 students drawn using multistage 'sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was titled “Home Economics Achievement Test (HEAT) constructed by the researcher and Measure of Home Economics Interest Scale (MHEIS), which was validated by three experts from College of Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Reliability indices of 0.78 (MHEIS) and 0.89 (HEAT) respectively were obtained using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) statistics for MHEIS and Kuder-Richardson 20 for HEAT. All research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 levels of significance. The results of the data analyzed revealed that parental level of education influenced students’ interests in Home Economics to a high extent and that there was a significant difference amongst students whose parents have F.S.L.C, S.S.C.E, HND/BSc/BEd, M.Sc/MEd/MBA and PhD on their interest scores in Home Economics. That parental occupation to a high extent influenced students’ interest and academic Achievement in Home Economics, that parental income of students to a high extent influenced their interest in Home Economics and that there is significant difference amongst students whose parents earn Nl,000-30,000, N31,000- 60,000,N61,000-100,000 and 101,000 and above on their interest scores of students in Home Economics. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Secondary Education Management Board should put strategies in place with a view of improving students’ academic performance like: active participation of parents on students’ academic affairs regardless of parental income level, and provision adequate learning materials for example: text books, furniture, lighting, and ample study space at home.