PERCEPTION OF TEACHERS AND PUPILS ON FACTORS INFLUENCING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AMONG A GROUP OF FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS IN JAMAICA

Abstract

The study examined the perception of students and teachers and the causes of poor performance Mathematics at a Primary and Junior High students in St. Catherine, Jamaica. Subjects for the study were Twenty (20) students and two (2) teachers randomly drawn from the school. Questionnaires were used to collect relevant data for the study. Percentages and chi-square were used to analyze the research answers. Responses of teachers show that teachers’ qualification and students’ environment do not influence students’ poor performance but the teachers’ methods of teaching influence poor academic performance. Students’ response on the other hand showed that while teachers’ qualification and students’ environment influence students’ poor performance. The lecture method and not much interactive teaching of students in finding ways to solve problems in Mathematics and also not much use of technology in classroom. Teachers’ method of teaching and learning material werenot. The implications of these findings for this Primary and Junior High school guidance counselors interested in counseling adolescents for good academic performance were discussed.