Teachers' attitude towards teaching mathematics and students' performance in mathematics at secondary level in Maldives / Mausooma Mohamed

ABSTRACT
In the past several decades, a considerable attention has been rising over the construct 'Attitude towards Teaching Mathematics' providing an effective learning environment. Mathematics teachers' attitude formation plays a crucial role to improve student's mathematics result. However, underachievement in mathematics has been continuously observed at Lower Secondary Level students worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teachers' attitude towards teaching Mathematics and their students' performance. This study also examined any difference between students' gender and their Mathematics performance. Further, students' gender was used as a covariate to determine teachers' attitude towards male-female and its effect on students' Mathematics results. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data; a questionnaire including a Likert scale survey and students Mock exam results. A purposive sample of total 202 (M=104: F=98) Grade 10 students' and their correspOnding mathematics teachers (15) from five co-education government Schools in Male' City were opted for the research. The results indicated a significant relationship between teachers' attitude towards teaching mathematics and students' performance. Concerning students' gender, findings of the study examined no significant'clifference between males-females and their mathematics result. Finally, the study discovered teachers attitude towards gender had no significant difference on students' mathematics results. These findings of the research indicate that teachers should build an optimistic relationship with students, should create an effective learning environment and assist students to achieve higher results.

Key words: Attitude, Teachers Attitude towards Teaching Mathematics, Students