Video/Priscillah speaking about her research.mp3/transcript

Our research was conducted in a the four schools in Chongwe District that we have ‘cause remember I told you that we were looking at the factors that would help improve the learning of mathematics in the four High Schools that we have in Chongwe District. That is Mukamambo Girls, there is Chongwe High School, Mikango High School as well as Kasisi Girls High School. So, we really wanted to find out factors that we would use to help us improve in the learning of mathematics. So, what we did was, we went round these schools, you know, interviewing learners, interviewing teachers of mathematics, of course. So, when we gave out the questionnaires to the children as well as to the teachers of mathematics, we were able to gather data from them to see the . . the factors that would actually improve the learning of mathematics. So, the first question was finding out what really contributes to the difficulties that children have in mathematics. So, children were able to come up with their own reasonings. Others could say, teachers get to their . . . their. . . get to their classrooms very late then others were saying lack of materials in the school. Others would say lack of concentration by. . . by themselves. So, those were some of the factors that they mentioned, to say they really contributed to the difficulties that they have. Then, we asked them what they would do to improve the learning of mathematics. So, some of them were saying, if materials were available in the school then, definitely, they would improve and also counselling them. They shouldn’t have that negative attitude towards the learning of maths. They were saying, if you can help us, maybe you counsel us on the importance of mathematics then it would be very good for us. I think when teachers of mathematics confessed the same. They were saying some of the teachers were not all that equipped to teach mathematics and then the availability of resources were also mentioned, by the teachers of mathematics, as factors that contribute to, you know, mathematics being difficult in schools. Then, we asked the same teachers what they would do to improve. So, they were like, no, maybe the government should give us more teachers, should provide more teachers that are really trained to handle mathematics and then they should provide materials. And, even sensitisation, you know, concerning how important mathematics is. Students shouldn’t have that negative attitude so they need counsel every time and they need to offer remedial work.