Factors affecting Mathematics teaching and learning at junior secondary schools in Katima circuit, Zambezi region: Teachers, learners, and administrators’ perspective

Abstract

This study examined factors affecting the teaching and learning of mathematics in junior secondary schools in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi region in Namibia. The study used a mixed methodology through the use of the survey design and a descriptive exploratory research design. The study used an in-depth face to face interview with nine teachers and seven learners in Katima Mulilo circuit who were selected through purposeful sampling strategy. The study also made use of a closed ended questionnaire which was administered to 120 participants (teachers and learners) who were selected through stratified random sampling. This study revealed that misconceptions on the part of the learners were one of the factors affecting the teaching and learning of mathematics in Katima Mulilo circuit. In addition, the study established that lack of adequate teaching materials and resources also affected the teaching and learning of mathematics. The study also revealed that low teacher qualifications and low working experience in the teaching and learning of mathematics affected the success of the learners in mathematics in Katima Mulilo circuit. The study revealed that there were several factors affecting the teaching and learning of mathematics in Katima Mulilo circuit. The study found that learners in Katima Mulilo withdrawing from mathematics and from school as a result of not are failing mathematics. In addition, the study also found out that these factors were the leading factors of the currently faced negative emotional effects in mathematics teaching and learning. More so, the study found that these factors lead to decreased learner enrolments in schools in Katima Mulilo and are also contributing to some of the currently experienced psychological impacts among the learners. The study recommended that the provision of the teaching and learning resources need to be done in Katima Mulilo circuit in order to improve the teaching and learning of Mathematics. In addition, the study also recommended that the improvement of syllabus coverage would also make an impact in improving the teaching and learning of mathematics in Katima Mulilo circuit. Apart from that, the study also recommended that improvement of parental involvement would also improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in Katima Mulilo circuit.