Factors Affecting Low Participation of Girls in Optional Mathematics

Abstract

The study entitled "Factors Affecting Low Participation of Girls in Optional Mathematics " aims at finding out the factors that affect the low participation of girls in optional mathematics. In order to fulfill the objective of the study, the researcher selected all secondary level girls of academic year 2072 of Bara district as a population. She collected the data from sampled population of one hundred twenty girl students and twenty math teachers from ten schools, five from urban area and another from rural area. Schools were sampled through non-purposive random sampling procedure. The research design of the study included survey design. The researcher used two tools to collect data. They were interview and questionnaire. After collecting the data, the researcher analyzed and interpreted the data in the percentage form and presented them in the tables. Triangulation was adopted to maintain the validity and reliability of the information. The findings of the study show that interest of the girls' students, teacher's qualification, students as well as parents' expectation and their views and beliefs directly influenced on girl's participation in optional mathematics. Similarly, home environment such as gender bias at home, practice time given to solve problem, study hour at home, teacher and peers' behaviour towards girls had also direct influence on their participation in optional mathematics. Girls felt difficulty in reading, comprehending the overall meaning of mathematics and make mistake in solving the mathematical problems were the factors affecting mathematics achievements of girls. Thus, girls had very low participation in mathematics class. They were almost absent in class and had low interest in mathematics. More importantly, rural girl students were comparatively poor in learning mathematics.