Teachers’ and students’ perception of resources availability, learning activities, and motivation to learn, as factors that inhibit senior high school students’ mathematics performance in Asuogyaman district

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine teachers’ and students’ perception of resources availability, learning activities and motivation to learn as factors that inhibit the performance of students in West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Senior High Schools in the Asuogyaman District of Ghana. The study, which employed a descriptive survey design, involved a sample of 720 students and 34 mathematics teachers selected from four schools in the district. A questionnaire was developed to solicit for information from the respondents. The study revealed that the trend in performance in West African Senior School Certificate Examination in mathematics has not been consistent from 2014-2017. The study further revealed that resources were unavailable and can be considered a contributing factor to the decline in students’ performance in mathematics. Results indicated that both teachers and students agree that the motivation to learn is a factor inhibiting performance. The study recommends that classroom teachers should use motivation as a major tool in instruction. The goal for this strategy should be to build a stronger student perspective on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as an incentive for learning. The government should provide the necessary teaching and learning resources to improve learning.