Karakolidis, A, Pitsia, V, and Emvalotis, A. Front. Mathematics has its application in a wide range of informal settings, including vegetable selling, sewing, fishing, construction work, shopping, purchasing, carpet laying, video games, cabs and buses, farming, entertainment, sports, and everyday family activities [20, 21]. Nsukka (Nigeria): University of Nigeria (2011). It is evident through research that the achievement of students is strongly linked to high-quality and qualified teachers [68]. Technology in the mathematics classroom in Challenges of teaching with technology across the curriculum: Issues and solutions, Pennsylvania, United States: IGI Global (2003). It is one of the most important subjects in the school curriculum, which acts as a bridge for all knowledge [3]. [Masters thesis]. Received: 06 October 2020; Accepted: 04 February 2021;Published: 23 April 2021. Introduction . A study on the use of ICT in mathematics teaching. Some students totally lose interest in mathematics upon reaching years 12 and 13 and therefore focus on subjects with projects to get a good aggregate. . Enu, JA, Agyman, OK, and Nkum, D. Factors influencing students mathematics performance in some selected colleges of education in Ghana. The teacher introduces a concept, connecting it with previous content. In comparison, 101 (55.8%) respondents have shown that the mathematics curriculum in the senior secondary grades focuses mainly on the product (performance in exams) instead of the process (learning and understanding). Study conception and design: SC and KC; data collection: SC; analysis and interpretation of results: SC, AP, and VC; draft manuscript preparation: SC and KC. Available from: https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/12/14/mathematics-year-13-low-pass-rate-hurts-mass/. The subject has appeared to be problematic in almost all the learning institutions hence hindering the average performance of most students. 21. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2006.00593.x, 20. Cooper, S. An exploration of the potential for mathematical experiences in informal learning environments. Research Questions Med Biol Sci (2016). As a public school teacher of sixth-grade mathematics for five years, I have encountered many pupils who are poor in both . 40(8):4358. The school is located in a western suburb of a major mid-western city. Students have a negative attitude and perception from primary school. Effects of computer tutorial and drill (CTD) on senior secondary school students achievement in basic electronics in Lagos State. Kokusai Kyoiku Kyoryoku Ronshu (2006). 15. The study was conducted in adherence to the research ethics of The Open . Reddy, P, Sharma, B, and Chandra, S. Student readiness and perception of tablet leaning in HE in the Pacific: a cased study of Fiji and Tuvalu. Solving math problems entails the students applying two skills at the same time: reading and computing. Out of 181 respondents, 145 (79.6%) have indicated that mathematics textbooks are very much dominated by arithmetic. There were no significant changes in the mathematics curriculum for the next 2decades until internal assessments came into effect. Visser, M, Juan, A, and Feza, N. Home and school resources as predictors of mathematics performance in South Africa. Printed by fabson graphic production (2007). Yan, C. We cant change much unless the exams change: teachers dilemmas in the curriculum reform in China. Karasel, N, Ayda, O, and Tezer, M. The relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematical problem solving skills among primary school students. J Educ Res (2018). A study of causes of failure in mathematics at high school stage. The survey also captured the mathematics and teacher training qualifications. Mathematics is the key to opportunity, for students it opens doors, enables informed decisions, and provides knowledge to compete in a technological economy (National Research Council, 1989). Moreover, many of the primary school teachers lacked potential and competence to teach mathematics at primary school levels, and this largely contributed toward the lack of interest among students, hence translating into poor achievement at both upper and lower secondary levels were found to be the reasons for students negative attitude and poor performance at secondary schools. 22(2):969. Despite these efforts, some students do not bother. Nicholas, J, Poladian, L, Mack, J, and Wilson, R. Mathematics preparation for university: entry, pathways and impact on performance in first year science and mathematics subjects. Table 4 shows responses from the 30 educators. This is derived from the percentage of responses given under the SA and A columns. p. 2715. Teachers personal and professional characteristics play a significant role in students liking or disliking of mathematics. Ifeoma, OJ, Chinyere, AS, Efeyadu, UH, and Juliana, A. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript. Mathematics is just numbers. In 2015, the honorable minister for education, Dr. Mahendra Reddy, further stressed that the Fijian curriculum was below the standard of some of the countries, whose graduates were more competitive at an equivalent level [47, 48]. An EdWeek Research Center study published in January found 67 percent of teachers reported students' math anxiety was a challenge. 2. For the teacher in the classroom it can provide opportunities for reflection and improvement, a testing ground for improving the teacher's practice. Int J Humanities Cult Stud (Ijhcs) ISSN (2017). Descriptive research design in form of an ex post facto approach was used. They know that no matter how hard they try, nothing would change as they would still fail.. It is quite evident that students with good mathematical skills can think analytically and have better reasoning abilities. Dayal, HC, and Lingam, GI. A study of 46,373 students (ages 5-19) also found that reading comprehension had a significant impact on math learning across the grades (Grimm, 2008). Nacei, L. Quality of education and graduates not up to par. The 2021 results announced by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta) show that students passed most fundamental subjects at an average of 55.33 percent. 15(1):12236. Johnson, D, and Johnson, R. Cooperative learning: improving university instruction by basing practice on validated theory. (2006) ; 26 . The following were a few of the responses from the interviews and student focus group discussions on how students perceive mathematics. Experiences in developing a micro-payment system for peer-to-peer networks. Math. 70. In: 2018 5th Asia-Pacific World Congress on Computer Science and Engineering (APWC on CSE); 2018 Dec 1012; Nadi, Fiji (2018). 3. The overall mean response of the students, teachers, heads of the mathematics department, and school heads indicates that the mathematics curriculum at the senior grades of secondary schools is ineffective and irrelevant and therefore needs to be reviewed. In many developing countries, several studies and researches have been carried out on curriculum and examinations influencing students interest and achievements in mathematics [7, 8184]. The teacher researchers had noticed a trend of low scores on teacher-made chapter tests and non-completion of daily homework. She always motivates us to learn, but I do not know the basics. If you notice that you overlook some sections that require adequate points, we suggest that you edit and revise the document consciously. b) Research question 2: What is the teachers attitude toward teaching mathematics at senior secondary grades? In: Proceedings of the 22nd pacific asia conference on information ystems (PACIS 2018); 2018 Jan 26; Yokohama, Japan. Thus, due to the exam-oriented system, teachers are too much concerned with finishing the syllabus and drilling students with the exam questions and answers [68]. I love to do technical drawing and computer studies as it has projects. Suleiman, Y, and Hammed, A. Pattison, S, Rubin, A, and Wright, T. Mathematics in informal learning environments: a summary of the literature Updated. doi:10.1080/15366367.2011.603617. Besides, mathematics students of the 21st century enter mathematics classrooms with a serious lack of fluency and reliability in numerical and algebraic manipulation and simplification, problem-solving, and negative attitude [28, 32, 33]. Benin (Nigeria): University of Benin (2011). I can answer few simple questions but when it comes to complex exercises, I just lose hope again. Student FG 19. Years 12 and 13 mathematics curriculum needs to be reviewed and the numbers of strands need to be reduced to incorporate more time for project work/class-based assessments. (HOD Interview 5). Chand, S. Mathematics year 13 Low Pass Rate Hurts Mass. In: 4th asia-pacific world congress on computer science and engineering (APWC on CSE). 3641. 85. [Masters thesis]. Onuoha, JC, and Eze, E. Students attitude towards the study of geography in Nsukka local government area, Enugu state. Why are there no projects in mathematics like other technical subjects? 38.Ministry of Education. 2017 Dec 1113; Suva, Fiji. Random Sampling technique was used to select the seven secondary schools from a population of 14 secondary schools within the districts of Ba and Tavua. The Education Commission Report 2000 even reflected that the exam-oriented curriculum does not allow for outcome-based teaching and learning to progress. Still, the result in mathematics at years 12 and 13 grades, the number of students enrolling at universities for STEM programs, and the number of graduates in mathematics, science, and technology continued to decline significantly. By the time they reach year 12 and 13, mathematics is perceived to be a foreign language to them. It was also found that an ineffective mathematics curriculum in secondary schools was the reason behind poor performance in the subject. The interviews and the focus group discussion only collected the qualitative data for the research. Sharma, B, Fonolahi, A, Bali, A, and Narayan, S. The online mathematics diagnostic tool for transformative learning in the pacific. 37(3). Several studies have attributed students low achievement in mathematics to student, teacher, and curriculum factors. Reddy, E, and Sharma, B. Effectiveness and relevance of mathematics curriculum. Fijian teachers' conceptions of assessment. Figure 2 shows the teacher training qualifications and 100% of the teachers have teacher training qualification ranging from secondary teacher training certificate to post graduate diploma in education. Cava, L. Why Scaling Was Scrapped: Reddy. doi:10.1080/1359866x.2017.1359820. He further added that the workload of teachers is significantly reduced by the use of ICT, allowing teachers to utilize more time to focus on the key role, that is, to enhance learning among students. Due to the ministrys policy on compulsory education till year 12, they are just getting promoted. After the pilot study, the research tools along with the responses were discussed among the co-researchers for further review and amendment for its reliability and validity. The continuing trend of poor achievement in mathematics in Fiji secondary schools raises concerns to the Fijian government and the stakeholders on whether or not the Fijian education system can supply graduates who possess the essential skills to enable them to cope with the ever-evolving technological society. Moreover, many of the primary school teachers lacked potential and competence to teach mathematics at primary school levels, and this largely contributed toward the lack of interest amongst students, hence translating into poor achievement at both upper and lower secondary levels. In few cases, teachers of nonengineering discipline are even appointed by the school administrators to take up the role of teaching engineering subjects at secondary schools due to the shortage of industrial arts teachers in the country. Overall pre-test and post-test scores of the sample based on total marks of 100 Table 1. doi:10.9790/0837-2202039699, 42. Int J Math Educ Sci Technol (2016). To address such issues in the South Pacific, a new cohort-taught pedagogical model known as the Science Teachers Accelerated Program (STAP) was introduced by The University of the South Pacific (USP) for those in-service science teachers outside the vicinity of USP campuses have to upskill and upgrade their qualifications through cohort teaching [22]. c) Research question 3: What are the teaching methods used by mathematics teachers at senior secondary grades? 2(2):45026. 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