Factors Influencing Pupils Performance in Mathematics in Selected Primary Schools of Makindu Zone, Makindu District in Kenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

DEDICATION ......................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ v

LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................. vii

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

CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................... I

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... I

1.0 Background to the study ........................................................................ I

1.2 Statement of the problem ....................................................................... I

1.3 Objectives of the study ............................................................................ 2

1.3.1 Purpose of the study ............................................................................ 2

1.3.2 Specific objectives ................................................................................. 2

1.4 Research questions ................................................................................... 3

1.5 Scope ............................................................................................................. 3

1.6 Significance of the study ......................................................................... 4

1. 7 Limitations ................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................... 6

LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................. 15

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ I5

3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 15

3.1 Research design ....................................................................................... l5

3.2 Area and population study .................................................................. 15

3.3 Sample selection ...................................................................................... 15

3.4 Data collection ......................................................................................... 16

3.4.1 Research instruments ....................................................................... 16

3.5 Data collection procedures .................................................................. 16

3.6 Data processing and analysis ............................................................. 16

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................. 17

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ........... 17

4.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 17

4.1 Background chamcteristics of respondents ................................... 17

4.1.1 Gender of teachers .............................................................................. 17

4.1.2 Professional qualification ................................................................. 18

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4.1.3 Experience of mathematics teachers ............................................ 19

4.2 General performance of learners in mathematics basing on

KCPE 2007 ............................................................................................................ 20

4.3 Attitude of teachers towards mathematics ..................................... 21

4.3.1 Reasons why mathematics teachers hold that negative

attitude ................................................................................. ...... 22

4.3.2 Pupils attitude towards learning mathematics ......................... 23

4.3.3 Reasons for some children not liking mathematics ................. 24

4.4 Teaching approaches and pupils performance in

mathematics ........................................................................................................ 24

4.5 Teaching learning resources and the pupils performance in

mathematics ......................................................................................................... 26

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................... 28

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 28

5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 28

5.1 Summary of findings .............................................................................. 28

5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 32

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................... 32

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 34

APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 36

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRES FOR TEACHERS ................................ 36

Appendix 8: Questionnaire for pupils .......................................................... 38