Perceived Causes of Students’ Failure in Mathematics in Kwara State Junior Secondary Schools: Implication for Educational Managers

Öz

This study examined the perceived causes of students’ failure in mathematics in junior secondary based on three research questions and objectives. Stratified, purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select 220 respondents from four secondary schools in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. An instrument tagged “Perceived Causes of Students’ Failure in Mathematics Questionnaire (PCSFMQ)” was used to elicit data from the respondents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Square (PLS) were used to analyze the collected data. Specifically, PLS software was used to assess the psychometric properties of the data while SPSS was used to find answer to the research questions. Findings of the study revealed probable causes of students’ failure in mathematics, which include insufficient number of qualified teachers in mathematics, lack of teaching aids/ instructional materials, frequent transfer of mathematics teachers from one school to another, poor socio-economic background of the student, poor teaching methodology. The findings also indicate that inappropriate period allocated for mathematics, as well as overpopulation of students in classroom caused students’ failure in mathematics. Based on the findings, it is suggested that educational managers need to avoid mass failure in mathematics by ensuring that adequate mathematics teachers are available in their schools at all times so that students can be taught mathematics at all levels. Also, managers should ensure decongestion of classroom so as to enhance effective teaching and learning in mathematics. Recommendations were made and future research directions were suggested.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• mathematics,junior secondary school,educational Managers

Kaynakça

1. Adepoju, T.L. (2011). A study of secondary school students’ academic performance at the senior school certificate examinations and implications for educational planning and policy in Nigeria. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Vol. 5 (6), Serial No. 23.
2. Adeluku, S.A (2012). The influence of instructional materials on academic performance of senior secondary school students in mathematics in Cross River State. Global Journal of Educational Research: 2(1).
3. Ale S.O (2007): Mathematics not a difficult subject. Guardian Newspaper June 14, pg (51).
4. Ale S.O. (1992): Difficulties Facing Mathematics Teachers in Developing countries. A case study of Nigeria Education studies in mathematics. Unpublished Thesis. 12 pg 479-489.
5. Amazigbo, J. C. (2010). Mathematics phobia diagnosis and prescription. National Mathematics Centre Annual Lecture, Abuja July.5
6. Ampadu, E. (2012). Students’ perceptions of their teachers’ teaching of mathematics: the case of Ghana. International online Journal of Educational sciences, 2012, 4(2) 351-388.
7. Aremu, A.O & Sokan, B.O (2003). A multi-causal evaluation of academic performance of Nigerian learners: Issues and implications for national development. Department of Guidance of counseling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
8. Asikhia, O. A. (2010) Students’ and teachers’ perception of the causes of academic performance in Ogun state secondary schools, Nigeria. European Journal of Social Sciences 13(2).

9. Attwood, T. (2014). Why are Some Students so Poor at Maths? https://www.senmagazine.co.uk/articles/articles/senarticles/why-are- some-people-so-poor-at maths.
10. Bajelo (2001): science, Technology, mathematics and Economic Development Education and Natural Stability, Dictionary of science and Technology.Vol.1.
11. Betiku O.F. (2001). Cause of mass failure in mathematics examination among students. A commissioned paper presented at Government secondary school, keru, Abuja science Day, 1st march.
12. Cooper, D. R., Schindler, P. S., & Sun, J. (2006). Business research methods (Vol. 9). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
13. Creswell, J. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. SAGE Publications, Incorporated.
14. Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
15. Dauda, B. Jambo, H.E. and Umar, M.A. (2016). Students’ perception of factors influencing teaching and learning of mathematics in senior secondary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, Vol.7, No.20.
16. Duarte, P., & Raposo, M. (2010). A PLS model to study brand preference: An application to the mobile phone market. In V. Esposito Vinzi, W. W. Chin, J.
17. Edukugho, E. (2010). Federal Government Moves to Tackle Poor Result in NECO, SSCE Exams. Retrieved on 26th March, 2018 from http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/fg-moves-to-tackle-poor-result-in-neco-ssce- exams-rufai/
18. Etuk, N. Afangideh M.E. and Uya A.O. (2013) Students’ Perception of Teachers’ Characteristics and theirattitude Towards Mathematics in Oron Education Zone, Nigeria. International Education Studies; 6(2)2013. 1913-9020.
19. Eze, J. E, (2000): The relevance of mathematics to science andTechnology. Bobarua Bi-Annual multi-Disciplinary journal of Education. Vol 4 No. 2 July 2003.
20. Fajemidagba, M. Salman, M and Ayinla, O. (2012). Effect of teachers’ instructional strategy pattern on senior secondary school students’ performance in mathematics word problems in Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, Vol 3, No 7.
21. Fakeye, D.O. (2012). Teachers’ Qualification and Subject Mastery as Predictors of Achievement in Mathematics in Ibarapa Division of Oyo State. University of Ibadan. Ibadan Nigeria.
22. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2013). National Policy on Education. Lagos: NERDC Press.
23. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2014). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
24. Karue, N. & Amukowa, W. (2013). Analysis of Factors that Lead to Poor Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination in Embu District in Kenya. Retrieved on 26th March, 2018 from http://www.tijoss.com/TIJOSS%2013th%20Volume/Amukowa.pdf.
25. 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.
26. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement 30, 607-610.
27. Maruff and Amos. (2011). Instructional Materials and Students’ Academic Achievement in Mathematics: Some Policy Implication. European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences.1(2) 2220-9425.
28. NMC (2009). Mathematics improvement Programme. Retrieved on 25th March, 2018.www.nmcabuja.org/mathematics_improvement_programmes.html.
29. Obikwere, F.E. (2008): Breaking the jinx in mathematics understand. Daily Independent March 3, 2008.
30. Obodo, G.C. (2000). Principles and practice of mathematics education in Nigeria. Enugu: General studies division, University of science and Technology pub. .
31. Ojimba, D. P. (2012). Strategies for Teaching and Sustaining Mathematics as an Indispensable Tool for Technological Development in Nigeria.http://www.mcser.org/images/stories/MJSS-Special.
32. Olaleye, F.O. (2012). Teachers’ characteristics as predictor of academic performance of students in secondaryschool in Osun State – Nigeria. Global Journal of Human Social Science: Double Blend Capital Reviewed International Research Journal :2249-4600X.
33. Onah J.N. (2010): philosophy of Nigeria Education. 3rd Edition, Enugu. Count international publishing press.
34. Ozochi Chidi (2007): History of Education, A global trend. Enugu. Printed by fabson Graphic production.
35. Pallant, J. (2010). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS (4th ed.). New York, NY: Open University Press.
36. 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, Vol.1 Nos. 2 & 3.
37. Punch, K. F. (2013). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sage.
38. Sa’ad, T. U. & Usman, R. (2014). The Causes of Poor Performance in English Language Among Senior Secondary School Students in Dutse Metropolis https://www.academia.edu.
39. Saad, T.U, Adamu, A. and Sadiq, A.M. (2014).The causes of poor performance in mathematics among public senior secondary school students in Azare metropolis of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Journal of Research & Method in Education, Volume 4, Issue 6 Ver. III.
40. Satish, K.K. (2013). A study of causes of failure in mathematics at high school stage. Academic Research International, Volume 4 No. 5.
41. Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2009). Research Methods for business: A Skill building approach. 5th Ed. A John Wiley and sons, Ltd. United Kingdom.
42. Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2010). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. Wiley.
43. Tahir, G. (2006). Teaching Education in the 21st Century and Beyond: Issues, Problems and Strategiesfor Improvement. Being a key note Address on the Occasion of the 2006 National Conferenceof the Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
44. Tshabalala, T. & Ncube, A. C. (2013). Causes of Poor Performance of Ordinary Level Pupils In Mathematics in Rural Secondary Schools in Nkayi District: Learner’s Attritions. Retrieved on 26th March, 2018. From http://novaexplore.com/NJMBS/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/02/N.JMBS_.4-14.pdf.
45. Ugwu R.N. (2001): community involvement practice for facilitating secondary school administration in Enugu state. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. UNN.
46. Umameh, M. A. (2011). A Survey of Factors Responsible for Students’ Poor Performance in Mathematics in Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. From https://www.academia.edu/7671293/a_survey_of_factors_responsible_for_students_poor_performance_in_mathematics_in_senior_secondary_school_certificate_examination_ssce_in_idah_local_government_area_of_kogi_state_nigeria.
47. Umar, A. (2013). Effects of teachers’ qualifications on performance in further mathematics among secondary school students. mathematical theory and modeling. 1(3) 2225-6522.
48. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meaningofmathematicsretrievedon23-3-2018
49. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_mathematics-retrieved-23-3-2018
50. https://wikipedia:www.importantindia.com/8083/mathematics/retrieved-23-3-2018