Factors Affecting Academic Performance in Mathematics of Students at Langata High School
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Date
2005
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
Mathematics in education has always been highly regarded in every corner of the world. This
is largely because of the place of mathematics in our lives. Mathematics plays a very
important role in our lives, both ordinary as well as functional Above all, Mathematics is
central for academic life.
This study investigated factors affecting academic performance in mathematics at Langata
High School. It was assumed that poor performance in mathematics was a result of poor
learning of mathematics and negative attitudes towards the subject This study therefore
investigated the factors affecting the performance of students.
The survey design research was used to find out the factors affecting academic performance of
students in mathematics. The target population consisted of students, teachers and
administrators of Langata High School. The data of the questionnaire was analysed in terms of
themes and connected with the objectives and research questions. This was done both
qualitatively and quantitatively. Pie charts, tables, percentages, and graphs were used to
present quantitative data.
It was generally found that the content of mathematics taught in secondary schools was
relevant to the level of education and the needs of students. However, some topics seemed to
very abstract, wide and very difficult to relate to daily life situations.
The attitudes of students towards mathematics were sought. It revealed that some students
have positive attitudes towards the subject whereas others have negative attitudes towards
mathematics. This indicated that the students showed mixed feelings in terms of attitudes,
which are very difficult to conclude as positive or negative. The majority of students strongly
agreed that mathematics is very useful for their life. They found mathematics of assistance in
gaining good jobs opportunities while few students found mathematics useless because their
future life does not need mathematics at all. Thus they suggested that mathematics should be
made optional. For them just elementary knowledge of mathematics was satisfactory.
Remarks were made that the majority of students do not have a good foundation in
mathematics from primary school. By the time they reach form one, they have already
acquired negative attitudes towards the subject As a result they do not perform well in the
subject. The study also showed that students believe that mathematics is a very difficult
subject and only special students can do well in mathematics. Thus poor backaround was one
of the factors affecting academic performance of students.
It was also found that the majority of the students were satisfied with the performance of the
teachers in their teaching. Teachers used all the possible means to make their lessons very
interesting. However, teachers admitted that they had some problems in handling topics like
navigation, probability, direction of wind and water, and reflection. These topics seemed very
wide and too abstract; caused problems of finding teaching aids related to these topics even if
they found them it is hard to relate them to real life. They caused problems to both students
and teachers. Teachers further stated that these topics should be removed from the syllabus.
The result of the study revealed that the lack of textbooks, and students' poor foundation in
mathematics from primary school, which leads to negative attitudes, are the major factors of
poor performance in mathematics
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Keywords
Academic Performance in Mathematics of Students at Langata High School