Difficulties of Chepang Students in Learning Mathematics
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Department of Mathematics Education
Abstract
This study entitled ―Difficulties of Chepang students in learning mathematics‖
intended to find out the difficulties of Chepang‘s students on learning mathematics.
The objectives of study were to find the learning achievement of Chepang students at
primary level, to explore their difficulties in learning mathematics and to find the
causes and to explore the ways to overcome the difficulties in learning mathematics.
To fulfill above objective the researcher conducted achievement test with
interview schedule and class observation form to collect the required information. The
researcher used the explanatory sequential mixed research design. Quantitative data
were analyzed by the statistical tools and qualitative data were analyzed by thematic
network approach of analysis. Researcher selected five sample schools from Chitwan
district by purposive sampling. Fifty students were selected for achievement test.
Similarly mathematics teachers, head teachers, parents were also included in
interview. The researcher analyzed the collected data with the help of conceptual
understanding on the basis of problems related to learning environment at home and
school, pre-knowledge of the students.
The finding of the study shows that, there are lots of difficulties of Chepang
students on learning mathematics. Chepang students have faced the difficulties on
fundamental concepts of learning mathematics, use of the knowledge of algebraic
structure and syntax to form equations, manipulation of operator symbols procedure,
transformation of word problems into algebraic expression, process skill, application
of concepts, formulas and theories in the new context, pre- requisite knowledge.
Besides these, local Chepang community are not accountable towards the schools
which causes lack of concern of the teacher in teaching learning activities in
mathematics, early marriage, language, poor economic status of parents and
geographical difficulties are the causes behind the difficulties of learning mathematics
specially to Chepang students.