Differences in junior high school students’ perception of school, teacher and student factors inhibiting their performance in mathematics

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate junior high school students‟ perception of school factors, student factors, and teacher factors inhibiting students‟ academic performance in Mathematics. The study was a descriptive survey with sample of one hundred and twenty-six respondents selected randomly from the three hundred and twenty-six students of Asokore SDA College Demonstration Junior High School, Koforidua. The researcher administered a closed-ended questionnaire personally to gather data for the study. The study found that students‟ perception of school factors inhibiting their academic performance in Mathematics included good seating arrangement, the type of school either public or private, and class size. Also, the students‟ perception of student factors inhibiting their academic performance in Mathematics included gender of students, attitude of students towards studying mathematics, and parental education of students. In addition, the junior high school students‟ perception of teacher factors inhibiting their academic performance in Mathematics included teacher absenteeism, teacher lateness, and shortage of qualified mathematics teachers. The study concluded that any attempt at improving upon the academic performance of students in Mathematics at the junior high school should consider school related factors, student related factors and teacher related factors. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that teachers of Asokore SDA College Demonstration Junior High School, Koforidua through the school‟s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) need to educate and motivate students to adopt positive attitude towards the studying of Mathematics. Also, the head teacher of Asokore SDA College Demonstration Junior High School, Koforidua need to put in place mechanisms to supervise teacher attendance and punctuality to school.