A Study of Appropriateness of Introducing Precalculus in Grade IX of Nepal ( A Study in Kaski District)

Abstract

Mathematics has been given a significant place in school curriculum of Nepal. There is a wide acceptance of importance of mathematics; still there is a lack of consensus regarding the different issues related to school mathematics curriculum, such as, contents, curriculum materials, teaching methods etc. For the development of science and technology of a country mathematics at school level plays a very significant role. Therefore great changes are taking place in the school mathematics curriculum throughout the world. To keep pace with this recent trend, many research studies are still continuing in Nepal for the development of a better school mathematics curriculum. In this context, the purpose of this study was an attempt to introduce the fundamental concept of precalculus from the secondary level. Therefore the main objective of this study was: To explore the possibility of introducing precalculus in Grade nine of school level. For this purpose, "An introductory course in Precalculus” was developed and taught in grade IX for 8 days. The course was taught to 15 grade nine students of Shantideep English School and Harvard Boarding School each selected randomly. This was done to conduct teaching in small groups. An achievement test consisting of two class tests and one post test was administered. Students' achievement in the test was compared with their achievement in the whole course of mathematics by using t-test. The findings of the study were: both Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ students' achievement in precalculus significantly higher than in their achievement in mathematics. The relation between students' achievement score in precalculus and their achievement score in mathematics was highly positive. On the basis of the above finding it was concluded that an introductory topic of precalculus could be introduced from grade IX.