The role of Home Economics education in enhancing parenting skills and promoting family cohesion in Imo State, Nigeria

This study investigated the role of Home Economics Education in enhancing parenting skills and promoting family cohesion in Imo State, Nigeria. Five objectives, five research questions, and two null hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 206,760 Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members from public secondary schools in Imo State, while a sample of 399 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated by experts, yielding a Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.82. Means and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that Home Economics Education enhanced parenting skills through improved child-care ability (x̅ = 4.21) and household resource management (x̅ = 4.03), and promoted family cohesion (x̅ = 4.11) through better communication, cooperation, and shared responsibilities. Hypothesis testing confirmed significant positive relationships between Home Economics Education, parenting skills (r = 0.63), and family cohesion (r = 0.59). The study concluded that Home Economics Education is essential for developing responsible parents and stable families, and recommended strengthening its teaching at all educational levels.