ASSESSMENT OF CLASSROOM SIZE IN THE TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKURE NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the class size in the teaching of mathematics in selected junior
secondary schools in Akure North local government area. The study espoused
descriptive research of survey type. The sample consisted of 35 mathematics
teachers and 150 junior secondary school students randomly selected within the
seven selected schools in Akure North local government area. Two research
instruments used for data collection are; Teachers' Classroom Size Questionnaire
and Students' Classroom Size Questionnaire. Data collected were evaluated using
frequency, percentage and mean. Furthermore, the result revealed that teachers
agreed that large class or overcrowded classroom affects the teaching of
mathematics with cluster mean of 4.20 was found to be above the criterion mean of
3.50 and most students were affirmative that class size affects the learning of
mathematics in junior secondary schools with cluster mean of 4.45 was found to be
above the criterion mean of 3.50. Furthermore, the result showed that most teachers
were affirmative about the possible causes of large class size with cluster mean of
4.15 was found to be above the criterion mean of 3.50 and most students were
affirmative about the possible causes of large class size in junior secondary schools
with cluster mean of 4.34 was found to be above the criterion mean of 3.50. It is
recommended that government should build more classrooms in Nigerian schools in
order to curb the negative effects of class size on the teaching and learning of
mathematics in Nigerian secondary schools.