Assessing factors that influence students’ interest in mathematics in senior high schools in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Abstract

The students’ performance in Mathematics has been of great concern among parents, educators and general society. Students’ performance in Mathematics may be affected by students’ interest towards Mathematics. The study modeled the Ghanaian Senior High School students’ interest in Mathematics by using quantitative research approach. The study used stratified simple random sampling technique to select ten schools and 1263 respondents in the Ashanti region. The structured questionnaire used for data collection was self-designed to suit the study objectives. The study presented three structure equation models: students-oriented model, teacher-oriented model and combined student and teacher factors-oriented model. The student-oriented model predicted 28.9% of students’ interest in Mathematics, the teacher-oriented model predicted 71.8% of students’ interest in Mathematics and the combined model predicted 71.1%. A logistics regression model predicted 45% of students’ interest while multiple linear regression model predicted 65% of the total variability in students’ interest in Mathematics. The study revealed that students’ interest in Mathematics is independent on the type of basic school attended, age, class level of student as well as parental motivation, however, the study found that students’ interest depend on gender, compulsion in studying Mathematics, future career influenced by Mathematics, parents interest, parents level of education, the programme of study and the agents of students’ motivation. The study concluded that teacher-oriented factors are dominant factors needed for predicting students’ interest in Mathematics. The study concluded further that teachers’ ability to connect Mathematics to real life problems remain the most important predictor of students’ interest in Mathematics. A recommendation of this study is for policy makers to consider early inclusion of guidance and counseling courses into the senior high school curricula to educate students on the importance of courses in their career.