COMPETENCIES POSSESSED BY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN HANDLING MATHEMATICS LABORATORY IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IMO STATE

ANAECHE, K.C (2022) COMPETENCIES POSSESSED BY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN HANDLING MATHEMATICS LABORATORY IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IMO STATE. Abacus (Mathematics Education Series), 47 (1). pp. 69-85.

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Abstract

The incessant poor performance of students in Mathematics in Imo state, in spite of the provision of Mathematics laboratory by Okorocha led administration, has drawn the attention of stakeholders in education sector. Against this background, several studies have been conducted to proffer solution to this menace. It is on this note that this study examined competencies possessed by Mathematics teachers in handling Mathematics laboratory in public secondary schools in Imo state. The study had four research questions and four null hypotheses. It adopted an analytical survey design. The sample size for this study was 110 Mathematics teachers which were purposively sampled from 59 out of 274 public secondary schools, where Mathematics laboratories are available. In each of the 59 secondary schools sampled, all the Mathematics teachers were used for the study. The instruments used for data collection were Mathematics Laboratory Knowledge Questionnaire (MLKQ) for gathering of teachers’ knowledge of Mathematics laboratory and Mathematics Laboratory Handling Observation Schedule (MLHOS), which was used to collect data on the competencies possessed by the teachers. The reliability coefficient of the MLKQ and MLHOS were determined to be 0.85 and 0.94 respectively, using Cronbach Alpha. The MLKQ was administered to the teachers while MLHOS was rated by the researcher during direction observation. The research questions were answered with mean and standard deviation, while the hypotheses were tested with t-test at probability level of .05. After the data analysis, the following findings were made: Mathematics teachers possess considerable competencies in the arrangement of equipment and materials and in the use of safety rules in the handling of Mathematics laboratory; Mathematics teachers do not possess the competencies of maintaining equipment and materials; and keeping record in the Mathematics laboratory as they claimed to possess. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that, emphasis should be placed on practical Mathematics in colleges of education and teacher training institutions so as to give prospective teachers solid foundation, not just on theoretical knowledge, but also on necessary skills and competencies in practical knowledge; examination bodies should make Mathematics laboratory, in secondary schools, a prerequisite, just like other science laboratories, for approving any school for senior school external examinations.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Education
Depositing User: mrs chioma hannah
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2022 11:08
Last Modified: 07 Jul 2022 11:08
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/3536

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