Factors Influencing the Performance in Mathematics in Primary Schools; A Case of Selected Schools of Budadiri Busula.Ni Sub-County Sirono District

TABLE Of CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL ....................................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDEMENT ................................................................................................... iv

TABLE Of CONTENTS .................................................................................................. V

LIST Of TABLES .......................................................................................................... vii

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... viii

ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................ 1

BACKGROUND Of THE STUDY ................................................................................. 1

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Statement of the problem ........................................................................... 1

1.2 Purpose of the study .................................................................................... 2

·1.3 Specific objectives ........................................................................................ 2

1.4 Research questions ...................................................................................... 2

1.5 Scope of the study ........................................................................................ 2

1.6 Significant of the study ................................................................................ 3

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 4

REVIEW Of RELATED LITERATURE ....................................................................... 4

CHAPTER THREE ......................................................................................................... 10

METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 11

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 11

3.1 Research design .......................................................................................... 11

3.2 Study area .................................................................................................... 11

3.3 Study population ......................................................................................... 11

3.4 Sample size and sampling techniques ..................................................... 11

3.5 Methods of data collection instrumentation ........................................... 12

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3.5.1 Piloting of the instrument.. .................................................................... 12

3.5.2 Types of data collection ......................................................................... 12

3.6 Data analysis ........................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................... 13

DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ......................... 13

4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................ 13

4.1 Background information ........................................................................ 13

4.1.1 Gender and performance in mathematics .......................................... 13

4.1.2 Gender and interest in mathematics ................................................... 13

4.1.3 Reasons for boys performing better than girls .................................. 14

4.2 Methods used in teaching mathematics ............................................ 15

4.2.1 Common methods used in teaching/ learning of mathematics: .... 16

4.3 The context of learning mathematical concepts:- ............................. 16

4.3.1 Teaching of mathematics using the spiral curriculum ...................... 17

4.3.2 Practical teaching of mathematics ....................................................... 17

4.3.3 Variation of techniques when teaching mathematics ....................... 18

CHAPTTER FIVE ........................................................................................................... 19

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................... 19

5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 19

5.1 Summary of findings .................................................................................. 19

5.2 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 20

5.3 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 21

5.4 Future research areas ................................................................................ 21

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 22

APPENDICES .................................................................................................................... 23 APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HEADTEADTEACHERSS ................................ 23

APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PUPILS ............................................................. 24

APPENDIX C: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERSS .................................................... 25

ABSTRACT

A descriptive study was carried out in Busulani sub county, Sironko district, with a purpose of examining those factors influencing performance in Mathematics, in primary schools. The study was guided by the following objectives; to find out gender affects the children's performance in mathematics. To establish if the methods used in teaching mathematics are appropriate. To find out if the quality of teachers was good to carry out instruction in mathematics. To establish if teachers follow the policy recommendations for teaching mathematics. The population that was studied of comprised 66 teachers. From different schools of Busu/anai sub county in Sironko. The researcher used a questionnaire for collecting data. Anding revealed that a number of teachers had low qualifications which could not facilitate them to carry out effective instruction in mathematics, worse than that was that a number of teachers had not specialized in mathematics. It was also discovered using the reform based institutional strategies adopted were also found to be gender insensitive to the learners, and most teachers were not following the recommended policy implications for teaching the subject The following were recommended: that government intensifies the specialization of teachers in mathematics sensitization of teachers through workshops and seminars.

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