Factors Responsible For Poor Performance Of Students In Mathematics In Nigerian Secondary Schools
Keywords:
Performance, students, mathematics, secondary schoolAbstract
This study investigated the factors that are responsible for poor performance of
students in mathematics. A random sample of 109 students from Best Start College
Mango Kaduna was used. The research instrument was a reliable and validated
20 items likert type questionnaire which was administered on 109 secondary school
students to obtain responses on the factors that are responsible for poor
performance of students in mathematics. The responses were analyzed using ttest statistic. At 0.05 significant level and 38 degree of freedom , the calculated tvalue was 0.469 and the t-critical was 2.021. Since t critical was significant the
null hypothesis was retained. Thus, there was no significant difference among the
respondents concerning the factors that are responsible for poor performance of
students in mathematics in Nigerian secondary schools. One of the
recommendations made was the need for efficient and effective teachers who are
professionally and academically qualified to promote mathematics learning in
schools.
References
Adesokn, A.O. (2000). Teacher-effectiveness: A Tool for a functional Universal Basic Education
UBE Programme in a Democratic Nigeria. Paper presented to the Conference on the
Planning and Administration for a successful implementation of the UBE Programme in
Nigeria. National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Ondo.
Ale, S.O. (1989). Combating Poor Achievement in Mathematics ABACUS. The Journal of the
Mathematics Association of Nigeria 19 (1)
Amazigbo, J. C. (2000). Mathematics Phobia Diagnosis and Prescription National Mathematics
Centre Annual Lecture, Abuja July.
Betiku, O. F. (2001a). Causes of Mass Failures in Mathematics Examination among Students a
Commissioned Paper presented at Government Secondary School. Karu Abuja Science
Day 1st March.
Banks, O. (1971). Sociology of Education. London, Batsford.
Busari, C. (1988). National Workshop on Review of Researches in Education by NRA in co-operation
with CESAC, Lagos.
Bryl, P. G. (1983). A Descriptive Study of Mathematics Anxiety. Ph D. Thesis Indiana University
Dissertation abstract international A3 (8); pp583.
Costal, J., Caldeira, H. Gallasstegui, J. R. and Otero, J. (2000). An analysis of question asking
on scientific texts explaining natural phenomena. Journal of Research in Science Teaching
(6) 602-615
Boocock, S. S. (1972). An Introduction to the Sociology of Learning. Bouston: Hough Mifflin.
Dori, Y. J. and Herscovitz, O. (1999). Question-posing capability as an alternative evaluation
method: Analysis of an environmental case study. Journal of Research in Science 36,411-
pp
Inekwe, O. I. (1996). Cognitive and Affective Factors that Affect Three Goemetric Reasoning Ability
off Senior Secondary students in Kaduna State. PhD. Thesis, Pp.53
Kahl, J. (1961). Common man boys. In Hasley, A. Fllod, J. and Anderson, C.A. Education, Economy
and Society. NewYork: Free Press of Glencoe.
Korau, Y. K. (2006). Educational Crises Facing Nigerian Secondary Schools and Possible Solutions
being a paper presented at Faculty of Education National Conference 10th - 14th July,
KoleOsho, A. Oyekanmi, S.O and Olabode, S. A. (1998). A study of the sex differences in
achievement of field-dependent and field independent students in mathematics. Journal of
the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria 33 (122), 62-65
Lassa, P. N. (1987). Assessing the cognitive outcomes of senior secondary school mathematics
students. Journal of Educational Studies Institute of Education, University of Jos volume
, Pp. 8-18
Lawes, J. S. and Eddy, C. T. (1967). Understanding Children an Introduction to Psychology for
African Teachers. London: George Allen and Unwin Limited. Page 25
Marbach-Ad, G. and Sokolove, P. G. (2000). Can undergraduate Biology students learn to ask
higher level questions? Journal of Research in Science Teaching 37 (8)854-870
Mughol, A. (1976). A Study of the Concepts of Physics at the Secondary School Level. Physics
Education 466(16) 145-146
Ojo, J. O. (1986). Improving Mathematics Teaching in our Schools, ABACUS. Journal Mathematics
Association of Nigeria 17(1) 164-177.
Okeke, R.A. (1982). Topic Difficulties in Secondary School Physics. Unpublished M.ED. Project
University of Ibadan.
Salau, M.O. (1995). Analysis of students' enrolment and performance in mathematics senior
secondary certificate. Journal of Studies in Curriculum 5 and 6 (1 and 2) 8
Sells, M. O. (1978). Mathematics a Critical filter. Science Teachers Association 45 (2) 28-29
Simpson, R. D. and Wazik, J. (1978). Correlation of Selected Affective Behaviours with Cognitive
Performance in biology course of elementary teachers. Journal of Research in Science
Education. January 1978 Issue 1, 65
Tahir, G. (2006). Teaching Education in the 21st Century and Beyond: Issues, Problems and Strategies for Improvement. Being a key note Address on the Occasion of the 2006 National Conference of the Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.