Investigating the causes of poor academic performance of female students in mathematics

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the causes of poor academic performance of female students in mathematics in the Bia West District. The targeted population of study comprised all the Senior High Schools, the NGOs, the Bia West Education Directorate and Female SHS Graduates in the study area. A Sample of 400 respondents was selected from the population using convenience and stratified sampling technique. Descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study. The instrument for collecting data was questionnaire. The study established that poor foundation, math anxiety, dyscalculia, practical lessons, and being boring among others cause poor academic performance of female students in mathematics at the Senior High School level. The study found students’ interest in mathematics as the strongest factor that predicts students’ performance in mathematics notwithstanding the significant contribution of other factor variables. The study recommended the following; parents should have positive attitude and outlook towards female education and always encourage girls to adopt successfully educated women both near and far in the society as role models, that government should formulate a policy of selective admission with elements of affirmative action for female students at the Senior High School level in the country, and finally, parents should exercise greater responsibility towards the welfare of their children especially girls.