A Comparative Study of Academic Performance of Girls in Mathematics: A Case of Chongwe District Basic and Community Schools
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Date
2011-05-24
Authors
M'soni, Joseph
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the performance in mathematics of girls from basic and community schools. The study sought the views of teachers on factors perceived to affect girls' performance in mathematics. Teachers also expressed their views through a questionnaire and a mathematics test.
A sample size of 240 Grade 7 girls and twelve Grade 7 teachers from twelve
schools participated in the study. All the girls were receiving their education on
full time basis in regular classes. Data was collected through a questionnaire, a
test and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to come
up with percentage charts. The study revealed that girls from basic schools performed better in the mathematics than those from community schools. The findings further revealed that girls from both basic and community schools did not find
difficulties in item tests that dealt with addition and subtraction. However, they
had difficulties with items that involved fractions, identifying relationships and
problem solving. The results of the study further indicated that there are similarities and differences in terms of factors that affect girls' performance in mathematics from basic and community schools. For example, both groups disagreed about teachers mostly asking boys to answer questions other than girls. One such
difference was that girls from community schools attributed their poor performance to poor teaching, those from basic schools did not. The results of this study suggest that, as much as girls from basic and
community schools come from the same communities, there is a difference in
their performance in mathematics. Since the aim of education is to ensure that all pupils excel, factors that affect the performance of girls in mathematics
should be carefully considered. Attitudes, rooted in the cultural milieu and reinforced by society, are probably some of the determining factors in whether or not girls succeed in mathematics.
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Keywords
Girls-Mathematics , Girls-Academic Performance