Factors influencing gender differences in mathematics performance in the senior high schools in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region of Ghana.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the factors influencing gender differences in mathematics performance among students of senior high schools in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Descriptive survey design was employed for the study. Two hundred and fifty (250) students and fifty (50) mathematics teachers were purposively sampled from the five senior high schools in the municipality. Questionnaire, inventory and the mathematics achievement test were used as data collection instruments. The data collected were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics. From the data collected, the study observed that there was gender difference in mathematics performance among students in the municipality (p=0.010) with varying factors. The effect of the poor performance of female students in mathematics as indicated in the study could lead to the truncation of their academic career of the students since mathematics is admission requirement in all tertiary institutions in Ghana. The study recommends that mathematics teachers in the municipality need to give female students, the needed attention and special tuition they require to improve their performance.