TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Declaration: ................................................................... I
Approval: ....................................................................... 11
Dedication: ..................................................................... lll
Acknowledgments: ............................................................ IV
Abstract: ......................................................................... v
Table of content: ............................................................... VI
List oftables: ................................................................... Vlll
Abbreviation and acronyms: ................................................ IX
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
I. 0 Introduction: .............................................................. I
l.l Backgrmmd of the study: ............................................... 1
1.2 The purpose of the study: .............................................. 3
1.3 The statement of the problem: .......................................... 3
1.4 Specific objectives: ...................................................... 3
1.5 Research Questions: .............................. ········· ............... 4
1.6 Scope of the study: ....................................................... 4
1.7 Significance of the study: .............................................. 6
1.8 Definition of terms: .......................................... ······ ........ 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction: ............................................................... 8
2.I The essence of mathematics education: ................................ 8
2.2 Methods of teaching mathematics: ...................................... IO
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction: .............................................................. I4
3.1 Research design: .......................................................... I4
3.2 Sampling procedure: .................................................... I4
vii
3.3 Target population: ....................................................... 15
3.4 Research instruments or tools: .......................................... 15
3.5 Validity and reliability of research instrument: ..................... 16
3.6 Data collection procedure: .............................................. 16
3.7 Data analysis: ............................................................. 17
3.8 Limitation of the study: .................................................. 17
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS PRESENTATION AND
DISCUSSIONS
4.0 Introduction: .............................................................. 19
4.1 Data Analysis: ............................................................ 19
4.2 Research findings: ....................................................... 20
4.3 Discussions: ................................................................ 28
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction: ................................................................ 32
5.1 Summary of research findings: ............................ -......... -... 32
5.2 Supplementary findings: .................................................... 34
5.3 Usefulness of the study: .................................................. 34
5.4 Conclusions: ................................................................ 35
5.5 Recommendations: ........................................................ 35
5.6 Suggestion for further study: .............................................. 36
REFERENCES: ................................................................. 37
APPENDICES: ................................................... ··············· 38
ABSTRACT This research investigated into the causes of poor performance in mathematics in selected secondmy schools; Tororo Municipality, Tororo District. This objectives of tltis study were: to find out the metl10ds teachers use in teaching matl1ematics in secondmy schools, to establish whetl1er types of instructional materials used by mathematics teachers affect students' performance and to establish students' attitudes towards mathematics and the impact on performance in tlris discipline. The study was conducted in eight secondary schools with the respondents being students, teachers and the headteachers oftl1e selected schools. The study was conducted using cross-sectional survey design because it enabled t11e researcher to obtain correlated data from different variables. The research tools used in this study were questimmaires and interview guide and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The data was analysed using percentage and frequencies for comprehensive analysis. The research findings were that most teachers use problem solving methods in teaching mathematics as indicated at 100% wltile few of them use lecture metl10ds as indicated at 06%. It was also fund out tllat the use of instructional materials in mathematics classes was almost negligible. In this study, it was recommended tl1at t11e ministry of education should harmonize tl1e policy of teaching mathematics by providing teaching and leaming resource organize in-service training for mathematics teachers and among ot11ers.
