This study aims at investigating the most important problems of teaching Family Education (Home Economics) in the Saudi intermediate schools according to teachers opinions, and to introduce suggestions and recommendations for solving them in the light of results.
The sample of the study consists of all teachers of Family Education in the public intermediate schools in Al Madinah Al Munwara; (n: 93).
To collect data, a questionnaire of 49 items, developed by the researcher, was administered to the sample towards the end of the second term of the academic year 1999/2000. Teachers are asked to state their opinions towards six aspects: students, teacher, school, curriculum, regulations of Education Adminstration, and family.
Data are analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and rank order. Results show teachers high agreement on the importance of several problems included: 1) Students carelessness. 2) Teachers burden of work. 3) lack of necessary appliances & equipped labs, along with large number of students in classrooms. 4) The incompatibility of the curriculum with students age, needs, and feasible resources, as well as lack of clarifying drawings, pictures, and attractive colors in the textbooks. 5) Lack of consideration by Education Administration to this subject in terms of evaluation, status, and provision of teachers in-service training. 6) Families poor follow up and encouragement to their daughters, and societal poor image of the subject.
Suggestions and recommendations for solving these problems, include: revision and modification of the current curriculum with active involvement of teachers; introducing modern technologies of teaching, particularly, computer; developing means of teachers contribution in producing teaching materials by using local products; equalizing the subject with others; developing new programmes for social awareness & culture; innovating in-service training programmes for teachers; and establishing a Saudi National Association for Family Education.