Home economics operates in the academic, curriculum and social realms,
as well as in everyday life. Due to its multidisciplinarity, it includes and interconnects
the contents of different disciplines (e.g., healthy lifestyle, nutrition,
dietetics, textiles, home, family, consumption, personal and family
economics, design and technology), which are considered in terms of
meeting the needs of the individual, family, and society. Home economics
education and literacy play an important role in acquiring knowledge and
skills that help raise the quality of life of the individual, family, and society.
With the development of society, the needs of both the individual and the
family are changing; therefore, changes are also needed in home economics
education, which is reflected in the updating of the subject curricula.
The goals and contents in the curriculum must reflect and meet the needs
of the current society and take into account the cultural dependence and
social determinism of the home economics field. To a certain extent, the
current curriculum of the subject home economics in Slovene elementary
schools already includes some content areas that have been recognised as
important for meeting the needs of society. These relate to healthy lifestyle,
nutrition, health, textiles, consumption, economics, family, environment
and sustainable development. Given the perceived needs of society,
the use of household appliances, home contents, and first aid should be
additionally included in home economics education in Slovenia, and students
should be encouraged to develop social and communication skills.
It is also necessary to consider the appropriate placement of the subject in
the curriculum, as it is necessary to implement home economics education
in the entire elementary school education. Doing so will enable the
acquisition of knowledge and skills needed in society and, therefore, the
appropriate level of home economics literacy of the individual.
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