Assessment of the Challenges Facing Mathematics Teaching-Learning in Secondary Schools in Pemba Island, Zanzibar

Abdalla, Yussuf Moh’d (2017) Assessment of the Challenges Facing Mathematics Teaching-Learning in Secondary Schools in Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study aimed at exploring the challenges facing teaching mathematics in Pemba Secondary schools. Two research objectives were formulated which were to identify challenges facing teaching learning of mathematics in Pemba Secondary Schools, and to examine teachers-learners perceptions towards mathematics in Pemba Secondary Schools. Descriptive research survey design was employed in this study. Data were collected using interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussion, observation and documentary review. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using microsoft excel and presented in tables, frequencies and percentages. A total of 144 respondents were involved in this study including, 80 secondary school students, 16 mathematics teachers, 8 head teachers, 4 DEOs, 32 school committee members and 4 District Mathematics Inspectors. It was found that; serious shortage of teachers, language barrier, large classes, teacher’ centered methods, inadequate practices, lack of relevance of the subject to students daily life, lack of motivation and negative attitudes of students, parents and teachers are the challenges facing teaching learning of mathematics in Pemba secondary schools, which adversely affect students’ performance. Suggested strategies in enhancing quality of teaching-learning mathematics were employing more mathematics teachers, motivating students to learn mathematics, provision of adequate teaching and learning resources icluding ICT, motivating teachers, minimizing the class ratio, covering the syllabus in time, frequent exercizes and feedback, providing equal opportunities to all students, and employing modern methods of teaching for good performance.

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