Exploring Factors Promoting Students’ Learning in Mathematics at Secondary Level

Author(s) : Almas Shoaib & Muhammad Saeed

Abstract:

The present study was based on a survey to explore the factors that are promoting students’ learning in Mathematics at secondary level. Twenty Mathematics’ teachers serving in public sector of district Lahore were selected purposively from 20 schools as the sample of the study. Structured interview protocol was used as a tool for data collection. The results showed that according to the teachers their students had less positive attitudes towards learning Mathematics because they feel it as boring and difficult subject due to lack of practice, lengthy syllabus and the medium of instruction, i.e. English. If students had weak base at primary level then they preferred to do cramming. That is the reason they face difficulty in conceptualizing many concepts of mathematics. The teachers also highlighted many topics which are difficult for students i.e. general concepts regarding algebra, geometry, set theory, base and number theory, etc. The study also suggested different factors which might promote students’ learning in Mathematics at secondary level.

Key words: Learning Mathematics, secondary level.