ABSTRACT: The study investigated School Facilities Utilization and Teaching of Mathematics in Primary Schools. The survey design was used for the study. The population consisted of all primary school teachers in all public primary schools in Etinan Local Government Area. Twenty (20) primary school teachers were selected using simple random sampling as a sample size. The School Facilities Utilization and Teaching of Mathematics Questionnaire (SFUTMQ) was the instrument for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistical technique.
School Facilities Utilization And Teaching Of Mathematics In Primary Schools
The result of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between the utilization of library facilities and the teaching of Mathematics; and that there is a significant relationship between the utilization of computer laboratory facilities and the teaching of Mathematics. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that teachers in primary schools should develop positive attitudes towards the use of laboratory and library facilities for the teaching of mathematics as this will encourage the development of their proficiency.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Schools are established for the purpose of teaching and learning. It is also more important that the teachers and learners are properly accommodated to facilitate the teaching and learning process. There has been an increasing attempt by educationists and psychologists over the years to look for ways of enhancing educational outcome of learners as well as output. Many studies have been carried out to show that among other things, school facilities enhance teaching and learning effectiveness in social sciences.
The work of Ekanem (2011) has shown that the school facilities assist teachers in making their lessons explicit to learners. Eneh and Nkang (2011) in postulation theory of cognitive development have shown that learners in schools function at the operational stage of mental development, one of the characteristics of the pupils at this stage of development is that they hardly remember what they learn except taught in concrete form.
It is when learning experiences are made in concrete form that learners can remember what they learn and one way of making learning experiences concrete is by teaching the pupils with school facilities such as, library, computer laboratory and sporting facilities among others.
In a related work, Akinfolarin (2013) identified school facilities as the major factor contributing to the teaching and learning effectiveness in the school system. These include equipped laboratories and libraries. Different studies conducted by Ayodele (2010) and Vandiver (2011) showed that a positive relationship exists between utilization of facilities in schools and academic performance of pupils.
Similarly, Miller (2012) asserted that the teaching of social sciences could be made easy and interesting for pupils if the facilities such as laboratory facilities and library facilities in the school are available and utilized in the teaching and learning process. It is also noted that a well prepared instruction could be destroyed by non-utilization or improper utilization of school facilities by the teachers.
According to Boniface (2012) utilization of computer laboratory and library facilities in teaching assists the teachers as the manager of the instructional process in the arrangement of the mechanics of the presentation and also in planning the whole instructional process and limited or completely absence of these facilities could pose a serious problem in the teaching of social sciences. Again few available ones are sometimes not utilized in the teaching-learning process making teaching to be in effective. It will be against this background that it will becomes necessary to investigate the extent to which school facilities such as laboratory and library facilities influence the academic performance of pupils of Mathematics in primary schools in the study area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The act of teaching is fundamentally concerned with passing ideas, skills and attitude from the teacher to the learners. In Nigeria for example, experience has shown that spoken words done in the communication of ideas are grossly ineffective and inefficient in producing desired learning outcomes. Every year, when the results of public examinations are released, there has been mass failure in Mathematics.
On the fore-going scholars like Ekong (2014) have emphasized that we learn and remember 10% of what we hear, 10% of what we discuss with others and as high as 80% of what we experience directly or practice. However, the question is could the mass failure be attributed to lack of school facilities to be used by teachers during the teaching and learning process? And could the utilization of library facilities and computer laboratory in schools influence the academic performance of pupils in Mathematics. Finding answers to these questions and many more will summarizes the entire problem of this study.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of school facilities utilization on teaching of mathematics in primary schools. Specifically, the study aimed at the following objectives:
(i) investigate the influence of utilization of library facilities on teaching of mathematics in primary schools;
(ii) examine the influence of utilization of computer laboratory facilities on teaching of mathematics.
School Facilities Utilization And Teaching Of Mathematics In Primary Schools
1.4 Significance of the Study
This study will be of great benefit to the following: teachers, parents, pupils, curriculum planners, government and the society at large. To Teachers: the findings of the study will make teachers realize that children at primary school age learn easily through the use of school facilities priority in social sciences especially in Mathematics.
To Parents: The finding of this study will give information to all parents on the benefit of school facilities.
To Pupils: It will also be importance to the pupils in the primary schools by enabling them acquire greater knowledge, attitude and skills through the utilization of school facilities in the teaching-learning process.
To Curriculum Planners: The findings of this study will assist them developing curriculum with the inclusion of the facilities to be employed in teaching the pupils the concepts in mathematics.
To Government: The findings of this study will enable the government officials to know the need of providing school facilities for utilization in teaching of mathematics.
To Society: The findings of this study will serve as source of reference for further studies on school facilities.
