Defining Key Areas of Home Economics Education Based on Stakeholders’ Perceived Needs: Results of a Delphi Study

Home economics education connects multidisciplinary knowledge and is crucial in addressing the challenges of changing society at the individual and family levels. For quality home economics education, pupils need to acquire knowledge and skills based on the fundamentals of home economics literacy, content, and goals defined in the curriculum for this subject. Our research aimed to establish the needs and perspectives of teachers, pupils, and parents regarding the importance and utility of home economics education. Areas of home economics to be included in the subject’s curriculum were identified, based on the perceived needs of pupils, parents, and teachers. The Delphi methodological approach was used. The first round of the Delphi study involved 30 teachers, 34 9th-grade pupils, and 34 parents of 9th-grade pupils, and its second round involved 16 teachers, 33 9th-grade pupils, and 29 parents of 9th-grade pupils. Survey results showed that by the end of elementary school, pupils in their home economics classes had acquired knowledge and skills in the economic and financial area, as well as in environmental and consumption, textiles, nutrition, health and well-being, social skills, and family and home. Although individual groups of respondents differed in the perceived importance of particular home economics areas, the respondents considered it important that pupils acquire home economics knowledge and skills in all identified areas. The Delphi research method proved to be an adequate method to identify the areas of home economics education that are important for a quality of life in modern society and need to be included in the home economics curriculum.