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Practical conditions for H ome and C onsumer S tudies in S wedish compulsory education: a survey study
Author(s) -
Lindblom Cecilia,
Arreman Inger Erixon,
Hörnell Agneta
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of consumer studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.775
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1470-6431
pISSN - 1470-6423
DOI - 10.1111/ijcs.12027
Subject(s) - psychology
The aim of the study was to map the field of internal and external conditions that S wedish H ome and C onsumer S tudies teachers and pupils have contend with. A questionnaire was constructed and delivered online in N ovember 2010. It contained 27 question covering teacher qualification, quality of premises and equipment, lesson time and collaboration, and the use of national syllabi. A total of 385 persons across the country answered the questionnaire; about 21% of those teaching H ome and C onsumer S tudies in S wedish compulsory school during the school year 2009–2010. These respondents taught in a total of 392 compulsory schools, which equalled about 22% of the schools teaching grades 7–9 in S weden. Almost a quarter (23%) of the teachers lacked formal training for H ome and C onsumer S tudies. Respondents without an appropriate degree qualification included those trained as nursery school teachers, dietitians and civil engineers. As regards classrooms, while 88% of respondents reported access to fully equipped kitchens with stoves, sinks and work surfaces, 5% used regular classrooms and the remainder were obliged to come up with alternative solutions, such as using portable kitchens in regular classrooms or conducting their lessons in the school restaurant. This study raises many questions about the quality of H ome and C onsumer S tudies provision in a number of schools. The local deficiencies in the nationally decided frame factors for H ome and C onsumer S tudies found by the present study gives us reason to doubt that all pupils achieve the overall learning goals of ‘knowing in practice’ and making informed choices utilizing environmental, economic and health perspectives. This might affect the health and economy of the individuals in the long run, with implications for the national economy and public health. On the basis of these findings, we therefore recommend that current conditions for H ome and C onsumer S tudies and how the subject should operate in schools become a focus for national debate.