Promoting Thangmi students in learning mathematics at basic level

Abstract

This study entitled on “Promoting Thangmi students in learning mathematics at a basic level”. The main aims of this study were to find the achievement level of students and explore the strategy for promotion Thangmi students in learning mathematics and explore the ways to overcome difficulties faced by Thangmi students in learning mathematics. The design of this study was a sequential explanatory research design under a mixed research approach. The researcher used purposive sampling and selected sample schools from the Dolakha District. The researcher constructed an achievement test on the basis of the curriculum prescribed by the CDC and administrated it to sample schools of this research.Quantitative data were analyzed by the statistical tools and qualitative data were analyzed by the thematic network approach of analysis. Similarly, mathematics teachers, head teachers, Thangmi students and parents were also included in the interview. The researcher analyzed the collected data with the help of conceptual understanding on the basis of problems related to the learning environment at home and school, and the pre-knowledge of the students. The finding of the study shows that there are lots of difficulties for Thangmi students in learning mathematics. Thangmi students have been facing difficulties with fundamental concepts of learning mathematics, the use of the knowledge of algebraic structure and syntax to form equations, manipulation of operator symbols procedure, the transformation of word problems, process skill, formulas, and theories in the new context, and pre-requisite knowledge. Behind problems that have been faced by Thangmi students, poor economic status of parents, poor management of school administration, and carelessness of students towards their study are found to be the causes behind the difficulties of learning mathematics,especially for Thangmi students.