PRACTICE AND CHALLENGES OF MATHEMATICS LESSON IMPLEMENTATION IN CHIRO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS’ EDUCATION, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate practice and challenges of mathematics lesson implementation in Chiro College of Teachers Education. Attempts have been made to examine:- mathematics teachers method of teaching in implementation of mathematics lesson, teachers belief about mathematics, availability of teaching and learning resource and dominant factors that challenges mathematics lesson implementation in Chiro College of Teachers Education. To this end, a descriptive survey approach was used as a method of this study. The data was collected from 236 sample students through simple random sampling techniques and all 4 mathematics teachers were selected because they were available. Interview with teachers, observation, and questionnaires were employed to collect data for this study. The data obtained were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. Accordingly, the result of the study indicated that the major factors that affect mathematics lesson implementation in Chiro College of Teachers’ Education were:- attitudes of students’ towards mathematics, students’ academic background knowledge in mathematics, uncovered contents of mathematics in elementary school and inadequate physical facilities. Lack of training on professional development in mathematics such as mathematics content, mathematics pedagogy/instruction, mathematics curriculum were another findings of the study. But majority of the teachers took only strengthen mathematics and science education in Ethiopia. Furthermore, teachers used a variety of methods to teach mathematics in class. However, teachers rated themselves as using lecture/explanation and demonstration methods prominently. It was found that the implementation of mathematics lesson was constrained by inadequate teaching and learning resources. Teachers have good feeling (belief) about mathematics was also another finding of the study. Hence, to alleviate the problems encountered in the implementation of mathematics lesson:- College administration should provide enough teaching and learning resources needed for implementation of mathematics lesson as soon as possible, Teachers should practice different method of teaching to enhance mathematics lesson, Ministry of Education should design and give additional training for lower grade mathematics teachers to be motivated, College should immediately conduct training program for teachers in mathematics, College should provide appropriate physical facilities and students have to be initiated to develop a positive attitude towards mathematics by using different methods of teaching and learning styles. Finally, the researcher believes this study will have a contribution in the effort of identifying some of the aspects, which hinder mathematics lesson implementation. It could be also used as an initial work for those who are interested to do further studies in this area.