Strategies to Improve Nigerian Students’ Performance in Mathematics
Keywords:
public examination, mathematics, Students’ poor performanceAbstract
This study adopts the survey research design to examine the strategies that should be adopted in order to improve Nigerian students' performance in mathematics. The aim is to spot out some of the reasons responsible for the alarming rate of failure in mathematics especially in public examinations and the possible ways to overcoming them. Sample for the study comprises 10 mathematics and 20 non mathematics teachers selected from the College of Education, Yola. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study using five point likert scale of strongly agree, agree, undecided, strongly disagree and disagree. Analysis was done using tables and frequency counts. The hypotheses were tested using Chi-square. The research showed that the qualification possessed by a mathematics teacher has a great positive effect on the learners. However, adequate and availability of facilities such as library, mathematics laboratory are necessary in order to improve on the students' poor performance in mathematics. Based on the findings of this work, it is proposed among others that qualified and adequate mathematics teachers should be employed in our schools.
References
Abimbade, A. (1995). Mathematics Method 2. Centre for External Studies, Faculty of Education,
University of Ibadan (TEE 333).
Abdulkareem, Y. A. (1990). A guide on Historical Foundations of Education in Nigeria.
Ilorin: Ibraheem Kewulere Commercial Press.
Adesulu, D. (2012). News ANALYSIS: On The Tracks of Mass Failure in NECO Exams,
(online) retrieved at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/news-analysis-on-thetracks-of-mass-failure-in-neco-exams, on July 22, 2013).
Adebola, O., Jaiyeoba, O. A. and Atanda, A. I. (2011). School Quality Factors and Secondary
School Students’ Achievement in Mathematics in South-Western and North-Central
Nigeria. The African Symposium: An Online Journal of the African Educational
Research Network, Volume 11, Number 1, (June, 2011), Retrieved at http://www.ncsu.edu/
aern/TAS11.1/TAS11.1_JaiyeobaAtanda.pdf on May 27th, 2013.
Adeoye, B. (1991). Mathematics, prerequisite for successful learning of Physics. Journal of
Mathematics Association of Nigeria, (Online) Retrieved at www.iiste.org on July 16,
Aina, M. E. (2006) Instructional Techniques and Methods in Schools Mathematics: MED
, National Open University of Nigeria, the REGENT (Printing & Publishing) Ltd.
Amazigo, J. C. (2000). Mathematics Phobia Diagnosis and Prescription. National Mathematics
Center, First Annual Lecture, Abuja, July.
Atanda, A. I. and Lameed, W. O. (2006). Fundamentals of school organization and classroom
management. Ibadan: Awemark Industrial Printers.
Bassey, M. O. (2009). Missionary Rivalry and Educational Expansion in Nigeria, 1885-1945.
The Edwin Mellen Press; Scholarly Publisher of Academic Research, (Online) Retrieved
at http://mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm, on June 29, 2013.
Betiku, O. F. (2001). Causes of Mass Failure in Mathematics Examination among Students:
A Commissioned paper presented at Government Secondary School Karu, Abuja Science
Day, 1st March.
Bryl, P. G. (1983). A Descriptive Study of Mathematics Anxiety. Ph D. Thesis Indiana University
Dissertation abstract international A3 (8), 583.
Edukugho, E. (2010). Nigeria: Why We Want Mental Arithmetic in Primary Education.
Vanguard, Retrieved at http://www.vanguardngr.com, on 12th June, 2013.
Etuk K. G., Etudor E. E., Nwaoku A. N. and Etuk U. R. (2006). Teaching Staff Quality and
Teaching Effectiveness: A Panacea for Quality Assurance in Akwa Ibom State Higher
Institutions. Nigerian Journal of Educational Administration and Planning, 6(2),
-119.
Fafunwa, A. B. (2004). History of Education in Nigeria. Ibadan: NPC Educational Publishers
Ltd.
Fafunwa, A. B. (1974). History of Education in Nigeria, London: George Allen and Unwin.
Federal Republic of Nigeria (1981). National Policy on Education (2nd Edition) Lagos:
Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council Press.
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2009). Annual Abstract of Statistics. Abuja: National Bureau of
Statistics.
First-Tutor (2012). Education Has Now Become a Weapon In Nigeria (Online) at
www.firsttutor.blogspot.com, Retrieved on 28th April, 2013.
Lawson, R. (1965). Learning and Behaviour. New York: Macmillan.
Imam, H. (2012). Educational Policy in Nigeria from the Colonial Era to the Post-dependence
Period. (Online) Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 1, 2012, retrieved at
www.ijse.eu/index.php/ijse/article/viewFile/142/144, on 20th May, 2013.
Jaiyeoba, A. O. (2011). Primary School Teachers’ Knowledge of Primary Education Objectives
and Pupil Development. The African Symposium: An Online Journal of the African
Educational Research Network, 11(1), June 2011.
Moses, A. (2013). 5 Reasons Students Fail their Exams (Online) Retrieved at http://www.
leaderinlearning.wordpress.com on September 2nd, 2013.
Mutai, H. (2011). Reasons why students fail in mathematics (online). Retrieved at
www.kenyaplex.com/...reasons-why-students-fail-in-mathematics.aspx on July 16,
Odili, G .A. (2006). Mathematics in Nigeria Secondary Schools. A Teaching Perspective.
Port-Harcourt: Rex – Charles and Patrick Ltd.
Ogedebe, P. M., Emmanuel, J. A. and Musa, Y. (2012). A survey on Facebook and Academic
Performance in Nigeria Universities. International Journal of Engineering Research
and Applications, 2(4), 788-797, July-August 2012 (Online) Retrieved at www.ijera.com
on June 30th, 2013.
Olatunji, B. (2007). WAEC: Edo Tops list of Average Performers, Abuja. Accessed Online at
http://www.nairaland.com/waec-results 2000-2007. Retrieved on September 12, 2013.
Ozigi, A. and Ocho, L. (1981). Education in Northern Nigeria. London: George Allen and
Unwin Publishers Ltd.
Patterson, E. (2008). Why Do High School Students Fail Algebra? Yahoo! Contributor
Network. (Online) retrieved at http://voices.yahoo.com/why-high-school-students-failalgebra-html. On June 30, 2013.
Popoola, F. R. and Olarewaju, R. R. (2010). Factors Responsible for Poor Performance of
Students in Mathematics in Nigerian Secondary Schools. Journal of Research in
Education and Society, 1 (2 & 3), 55 - 65
Taiwo, C. O. (1980). The Nigerian Educational System. Lagos: Thomas Nelson Nigeria
Limited.
Udousoro, U. J. (2002). The Relative Effects of Computer and Text: Assisted Programmed
Instruction on Students’ Learning Outcomes in Mathematics, Unpublished Ph. D. Thesis,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
Yahya, A. S. (2012). Strategies to Reduce Pathological Fear in Mathematics among Secondary
School Students in Adamawa State, Nigeria. JPAIR: Multidisciplinary Journal, Vol. 8
March 2012.
