HOME ECONOMICS STUDENTS COMPETENCE IN GARMENT MAKING FOR ENTREPRENUERSHIP: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This study was designed to ascertain garment making competence of Home Economics students in Delta State University, Abraka. It examined adequacy of tools and equipment required for smooth acquisition of the needed competence to accurately make garmentswith good fit for successful entrepreneurship. Tools and equipment at their disposal were considered. A survey design method was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 205 Home Economics students. A sample of one hundred and twenty (120) students was used for the study. The purpose of this study was to examine the prospects and challenges with regards to students’ competence in garment making. Datawas collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using frequencies, simple percentages, means and standard deviation. The result of the findings showed inadequate provision of garment making tools and equipment. Only 7out of 24 items were adequate, others were either not available or inadequate. The result of the findings showed that students are not very competent to make garments, which may pose challenges to self-reliance and employability. Some of the tools provided are not functional, neither is the laboratory adequately equipped for effective impartation of skills for entrepreneurship. Based on the findings, recommendation made include; government should(1)address the challenge of lack in the Clothing and Textiles laboratory to reposition vocational education training (2) fund and equip the Clothing and Textiles laboratory with modern tools and equipment for effectiveness,and to create conducive skill acquisition environment (3)School authority should set priorities in terms of regular maintenance of tools and equipment to forestall absolute breakdown of equipment beyond remedy among others.