Attitude of secondary school students towards mathematics and its effects on their performance in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania

This study investigated the attitude of secondary school students towards learning Mathematics and its effect on their performance in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to; (1) examine attitude of secondary school students towards learning Mathematics; (2) to assess the relationship between students attitude in Mathematics and their performance; and (3) investigate the contribution of teachers in influencing students attitude towards learning Mathematics in secondary schools. The study employed mixed research methodology and cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The sample composed of six secondary schools from which twenty Mathematics teachers, six heads of school, six academic teachers and three hundred students were involved. The study employed purposive sampling technique, convenience sampling and simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaire, interview and documentary review. Data were analyzed as discussed in data analysis plan. Findings from the study revealed that students had positive attitudes towards Mathematics. The findings also showed that there was positive relationship between students’ attitude and Mathematics performance. Furthermore, the findings showed that teachers play a great role in influencing students’ attitude towards learning Mathematics. From the findings the study recommends that education stakeholders has to provide teaching and learning facilities such as Mathematics textbooks and to employ more Mathematics teachers to build the students attitude. Also the education stakeholders should build dormitories/ hostels to make students to stay in school to improve learning environment for better performance. Moreover, the education stakeholders should provide in service training to Mathematics teachers to equip them with the advancement in teaching methodology.