UNIVERSITY OF EDUCTION, WINNEBA. INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION . CENTRE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POOR PERFORMANCE PF GILR IN MATHEMATICS OFNAWARODIN ISLAMIC PRIMARY FOUR.

BONSAH GEORGINA

2012

UNIVERSITY OF EDUCTION, WINNEBA. INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION . CENTRE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POOR PERFORMANCE PF GILR IN MATHEMATICS OFNAWARODIN ISLAMIC PRIMARY SCHOOL.

BONSAH GEORGINA

A PROJECT WORK SUBMITED TO INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF EDCATION, WINNEBA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR IN BASIC EDCATION

MAY, 2012 DECLARATION Candidates Declaration I hereby declare that, this projection work is the result of my own original research and that not part of it has been presented for another degree award toe the University of Education, Winneba of elsewhere.

Candidates Name: GEORGINA BONSAH Date Signature : :

SUPERVISORS DECLARATION I hereby declare that the preparation of this project work was supervised in accordance with the guidelines and supervision of project work laid down by the University of Education, winneba. SUPERVISOR NAME: DATE: SIGNATURE: ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to find . Why girls perform poorly in mathematics, effects on their academic performance of the girl child at Nawarodin Islamic Primary Four. Of pupils are prepared very well in mathematics at the early-stage, leaning the other subject would not be very difficult for them.

Mathematics had seriously become problematic and is posing limitations to children/wards. These factors range from the attitudes of student, teachers as well as parents. In order to do away with girls poor performance in mathematics, parents and guardians must desist from engaging their female wards with work during school days. Teachers must adopt teaching strategic that would actively involve pupils in lessons. The use of adequate teaching and leaning materials motivates and encourages pupils to improve and maintain high standards in mathematics. Recommendations have been made to solve the problem associated with teaching and learning of mathematics. It was concluded that, all stakeholders of education must involve in a Collaborative effort to improve girls performance in mathematics. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I express my profound gratitude to God Almighty for His guidance and protection throughout my education. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Mr. Thomas Yeboah for his invaluable guidance and suggestions in planning and writing this project work. Finally to all colleagues and teachers of Nawarodin Islamic Primary and Junior High School. DEDICATION This project work is dedicated to the God Almighty for seeing me through these courses. To my lovely son, Mitchelle Taadi Unulmo Banyu.

TABLE OF CONTENT CONTENT DECLARATION

ABSTRACT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DEDICATION TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1: background to the study 1.2: Statement of the problem 1.3: Problem diagnosis 1.4: Purpose and Objectives 1.5: Significance of the study 1.6: Delimitations

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Review of related literature CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH AREA Design

Population Instrument Sample and sampling techniques Data collection procedure Pre-intervention Intervention Post-intervention Limitation CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS OR FINDINGS Results of findings Summary of main findings CHARPTER FIVE DISCUSSION OF RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Discussion Conclusion Recommendations REFERENCES APPENDICES

GEORGINA BANSAH (4103603298)

TOPIC: An investigation into the poor performance of girls in mathematics CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION This chapter covers the background of the study statement of the problem, the purpose and objectives of the study and the research questions. The researcher goes on to highlight of the significances of the study, delimitations (scope) and finally the organization of the study. Background to the study. The problem of poor performance of mathematics among girls cannot be overlooked in our various schools. Modern methods of teaching and learning is based on what children already know and what to be learned. (known to unknown). The importance of mathematics in the cocio-economic development cannot be over emphasized. Mathematics is used in social studies, geography, economics and a lot more. Bankers, Doctors, Engineers, Businessmen and women and many other professionals employ mathematical knowledge in their day to day activities. Non-professionals like market women, labourers and framers apply mathematical knowledge quite often. In spite of the importance of mathematics as stated above, pupils in primary schools also complain that, mathematics is a very difficult subject. This notion is passed on from generation to generations as a result pupils at their early stage of schooling also fear the subject. Several attempts have been made by many scholars to make mathematics interesting to pupils but it seems the various attempts have not been successful. Pupils inability to solve mathematics problems is likely to affect their academic performance. The West African Examination Council complained about the poor performance of pupils generally in mathematics. The chief examiners report for 2008 was that, candidates performance was generally poor and subsequently came out with suggestions that it is only through constant drills and practice that students can

acquire the skills required in solving mathematical problems. Teachers should change their methodology and strive to make students understand concepts properly using improved teaching and learning materials. Kenten Anyiuabrem is a business community in which most of the people engage in trading activities. This community is nearer to Techiman market and this is where Nawarodin Islamic Primary can be found. The problem of poor performance in mathematics on the part of the ten girls was observed by the researcher during her mathematics lessons at Nawarodin Islamic Primary four. The total enrolment is twenty-five. The ten girls in this class perform poorly in mathematics as compared to their male counterparts. These pupils do not attend school regularly and for most part of the school work absent especially in mathematics lessons.

Statement of the problem Many students have it in mind that mathematics as a subject is very difficult especially children have no option than to swallow this idea and to grow up to hate the subject. The researcher observed the whenever mathematics exercises are given especially on numbers and numeral and the others. These girls score very low marks whilst the boys in the same class score higher marks. The days that the pupils stay at home is more than the days they attend school. Inappropriate teaching methods in teaching mathematical concepts have also accounted for pupils poor performance in mathematics. The researcher also observed that lack of teaching learning materials has also contributed to this problem. Whenever explanation is given as to how to solve mathematical problem like addition and substration of four digit numbers the girls find it very difficult to understand. This problem made the researcher to ask why girls perform poorly in mathematics. Problem Diagnosis

The problem was diagnosed through observation in mathematics lessons in class four. The girls score very low marks in mathematics exercises especially in addition and substraction of four digit numbers as compare to their male counterparts. It was through this the researcher got to know that the female in P4 perform poorly in mathematics.

Purpose and objectives of the study It is the researchers aspirations that by the end of this project writing the pupils (girls) poor performance in mathematics would be curtailed to the bearest minimum. The researcher also intends to examine the causes of the problem in Nawarodin Islamic Primary with particular reference to primary four. The purpose for this study is to find a) the causes of girls poor performance b) how best teachers could use teaching and learning materials (ILM) as effective tool to promote pupils interest in mathematics. c) how to address the basic problems that militate against teaching and learning mathematics. d) The effects of pupils poor performance in mathematics on their academic performance.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS To identify the causes of female poor performance in mathematics as compare to their male counterparts the following research questions are to be addressed -what are the causes of girls poor performance in mathematics -what techniques are methods are the best for teaching and learning mathematics

-what are the effects on their academic performance -what suggestions could be given to solve this problem

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study seeks to find out the causes of girls poor performance in mathematics of Nawarodin Islamic Primary and other factors that contributes to this in the community. The study will help the girls (ten pupils) to improve their performance in mathematics and also attend school regularly. It will also help future mathematics and other researchers to build strong foundation to the approach of mathematics. Again, the study will help the girl child to develop interest towards the study of mathematics. It will also change the notion they have about mathematics being a difficult subject. The study would contribute to practice improvement and enriching knowledge and to help the pupils in teaching and learning. It will therefore help teachers and other researchers as it seeks to improve knowledge to the existing one. Delimitations The study was conducted only at Nawarodin Islamic Primary four at Kenten Anyiuabrem. This study is confined to a smaller geographical area, hence its application to a larger population may not be reliable. Although there are similar problems in all the schools in Techiman Municipality. This study is restricted only to Nawarodin Islamic Primary four and should not go beyond the class as well as the entire school. The issue deals with addition and substraction of four digit numbers. The study again looks at the causes of poor performance of girls, effects on the victims academic performance a compared to their male counterparts.

LIMITATIONS In the course study, certain conditions and factors caused problems for the advancement of this study. These factors includes, -lack of co-operation from respondents, The total number of persons interviewed became smaller than the anticipated. -financial constraints did not spare the researcher during the visitation to interview pupils and parents and the provision of sufficient questionnaires. -the same period use for the study was also used for the classroom work.