MATERNAL OCCUPATION AND NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AS CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HOME ECONOMICS IN ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
Keywords:
Maternal Occupation, Nutritional Knowledge, Determinants, Academic Performance, Secondary School Students, Home EconomicsAbstract
The study investigated the maternal occupation and nutritional knowledge as correlates of academic performance of secondary school students in Home Economics in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested at .05 level of significance in the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population of the study comprised of 4,865 junior secondary school students in all the 16 public junior secondary schools in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. A sample size of 200 students was selected from the population using the simple random sampling technique. Two instruments were used for data collection: The Maternal Occupation and Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire (MONKQ) and the Home Economics Academic Performance Test (HEAPT). The data collected were analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at a .05 level of significance. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between mothers’ nutritional knowledge and students’ academic performance in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State and there is a significant relationship between maternal occupation and the academic performance of students in Home Economics in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that schools and community health programs should organize workshops and awareness campaigns to educate mothers on proper nutrition and its impact on children’s learning as this will equip mothers with the knowledge needed to support their children’s dietary needs, ultimately improving academic performance.
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