St Angela’s College, Sligo calls for Home Economics to be mandatory at Post-primary Cycle

A series of events took place at St. Angela’s College to celebrate the annual World Home Economics Day. The events focused on promoting Home Economics as an “Education for Life” subject.

Minister for Health and Children, Dr. James Reilly T.D. attended a presentation entitled the “The Role of Home Economics in developing Life Skills and Nutrition Education” with the Home Economics Department of St. Angela’s College, Sligo. Minister Reilly recognised the value of the discipline by referencing the role of Home Economics education as a key health promotion intervention in a speech later in the day.

Raising the national profile of Home Economics continued as Ms. Amanda Mc Cloat, Head of the Home Economics Department at St. Angela’s College conducted an interview on Newstalk on World Home Economics Day. Speaking to Mr. Tom Dunne on his mid-morning Newstalk programme, she commented: “The knowledge of Home Economics empowers individuals and families to improve their lives, to manage resources and to provide healthy and nutritious food on a daily basis.” Ms McCloat highlighted the need to create opportunities for young people to access high quality food education in the post-primary system through the subject of Home Economics.

“Home Economics is a life skills subject,” added Ms McCloat, “Home Economics empowers students to make informed decisions around food preparation, nutrition, diet and health as well as acquiring key skills in money management and budgeting in order to make wise consumer choices." Ms. Mc Cloat called for Minister Quinn to make Home Economics mandatory at Junior cycle level education.

The International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) selected the theme for World Home Economics Day 2013 as: Empowering Individuals, Families and Communities through Home Economics: Confront Poverty and Social Exclusion. To raise the profile of the annual event in Ireland, culinary award-winning chef Mr. Neven Maguire presented a live cookery demonstration at St. Angela’s College, Sligo, during which he emphasised the critical and valuable role Home Economics played in his life in nurturing his love of food.

“We hope to raise the profile of Home Economics in the community, so that it is recognised as an essential part of post-primary education and education for life,” explains Ms McCloat. She noted that St. Angela’s College has launched a Podcast entitled: The Relevance and Value of Home Economics in the Lives of Irish Second level Students. This podcast is an interview conducted with Dr. Mary Magee, Lecturer in Home Economics and Ms. Lorraine Collins Home Economics teacher and M.Ed. (Home Economics) graduate. This podcast is available on the College’s YouTube channel or on the College Web site here. For more information on the programmes in the Home Economics Department and with the Lough Gill School of the Culinary Arts click on the following link.

Photo:
Celebrating World Home Economics Day 2013 in Sligo is Mr Eugene Toolan, Head of Education at St Angela’s College, Sligo; Dr Anne Taheny, President of St Angela’s College, Sligo; Ms Amanda McCloat, Head of Home Economics Department of St Angela’s College, Sligo; Dr James Reilly, TD and Minister of Health and Children; Ms Eileen Kelly Blakeney, Home Economics Lecturer- St Angela’s College, Sligo; Dr Elaine Mooney, Home Economics Lecturer- St Angela’s College, Sligo.