Abstract

ANALYSIS OF PERCEIVED DIFFICULT TOPICS BY PRIMARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS AND PUPILS IN DUTSIN-MA, KATSINA STATE

AKISSANI ISHAKU and MUNTARI IDRIS

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ABSTRACT This study analysed topics perceived difficult by primary school mathematics teachers and pupils in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State. The study adopted a descriptive research type of survey design.The population consists of all primary school mathematics teachers and their pupils of primary six class in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State. Purposive sampling technique was used to select five primary schools and ten mathematics teachers from each school to give a total of fifty teachers. Forty primary six pupils were randomly selected from each of the schools to give a total of two hundred pupils as participants in the study. The instrument for data collection was Primary School Mathematics Topic Analysis Questionnaire (PSMTAQ). Three experts validated the instruments. The reliability coefficient obtained were 0.87 and 0.73 respectively for the teachers and pupils versions of the instrument. Mean, standard deviation, Spearman rank correlation and independent t-test of significance were the tools used for data analysis. Results revealed that 10 topics out of 28 were commonly perceived difficult by the teachers and pupils. There exists a low and negative correlation between the teachers? and pupils? ratings of perceived difficult topics. There was no significant difference in the teachers? ratings of perceived difficult topics based on years of teaching experience. There was also no significant gender difference in the pupils? ratings of perceived difficult topics. It was recommended among others that, primary school mathematics teachers in Dutsin-ma through school and government sponsorship should endeavour to improve themselves and update their knowledge by attending mathematics workshops and seminars.

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