MATHEMAPHOBIA AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OVIA NORTHEAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the occurrence of mathemaphobia among secondary school students in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The main objective is to thoroughly examine the underlying causes, consequences, and possible remedies related to this widespread problem. The study comprises of six research question and two hypotheses which was drawn from the research question. The study is delimited to students in the secondary school system. Survey research design was adopted in this study, the sample size for the study was made up of 71 respondent from nine secondary schools in the aforementioned local government area, a random sampling method was used, using questionnaire as the research instrument and method of data collection. The research instrument was validated by the project supervisor and two experts in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin. A Cronbanch alpha coefficient of 0.757 was obtained showing that the research instrument was reliable. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution and percentages, as well as estimates for mean value and standard deviation. The hypotheses were thoroughly examined using SPSS Statistics 25 software. One important discovery is that students often have difficulty understanding how mathematics is relevant to their everyday lives. This perceived absence of connection frequently results in disengagement and a consequent decrease in motivation towards the study of mathematics. Professional development for teachers, interactive teaching methods, real-life application among others were recommended. Resolving this gap could be crucial in reducing mathemaphobia among secondary school pupils in the area under investigation.