Subject Overview

The Junior Certificate Home Economics syllabus provides students with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for living as individuals and as members of a family. In a time of rapid social change, the study of home economics is very relevant to the present and future social, creative and management needs and skills for living that are so vital to preparing every young person for the opportunities and challenges, which they will meet in the course of their lives. It provides for a wide range of educational experiences in the aesthetic, creative, physical, scientific, social, and environmental domains.

Content

The syllabus is based on a core of five areas of study that will be studied by all students and one optional study, from a choice of three.

Core

Food studies and culinary skills
Consumer studies
Social and health studies
Resource management and home studies
Textile studies.

Optional study

The optional study allows students the opportunity to undertake a more detailed study of one area of the core.

One optional study may be chosen from the following three:

Childcare
Design and craftwork
Textile skills is an extension of textile studies.

Assessment

Junior Certificate Home Economics is assessed, at Ordinary and Higher Level, through three different methods of assessment:

	Higher level	Ordinary level
Food studies practical examination	35%	45%
An elective study project	15%	15%
A terminal written examination	50%	40%

Status

This syllabus was implemented in schools in 1991. It is currently undergoing a rebalancing process, in a move towards presenting all junior cycle syllabuses in similar formats.

Documentation

Junior Certificate Home Economics Syllabus
Junior Certificate Home Economics - Guidelines for Teachers

Home Economics