Influence of teachers’ qualifications on academic performance of students in mathematics

Abstract

The study examined the effect of teachers’ qualification on students’ academic performance in mathematics. The study is vital as it portrays the extent to which students’ performance are being influenced by the teachers qualification. In order to determine the relationship between students’ academic performance in mathematics and teachers qualification, some of these key variables were used in the study, NCE, PDE/PGDE, B.Sc, B.Ed, M.Sc and M.Ed while students’ performance was represented by their performance in mathematics. The research design used is survey design and data for the study were obtained from the teachers of the selected secondary schools in Idemili North Local Government in Anambra State teaching mathematics. The statistical test of parameter estimates was conducted using the Wilcoxon statistical test tool to establish the relationship between the variables. The findings generally indicated that a significant difference existed in the performance of students taught by professional teachers and non-professional teachers. On the basis of this finding, the study concluded that students who were taught by professional teachers perform much more than students who were taught by non-professional teachers in mathematics. The study therefore recommended that only qualified mathematics teachers should teach mathematics at the secondary school level. While the holders of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) should be allowed to proceed in their education either through part-time or study leave likewise teachers without teaching qualification should pursue their Post Graduate Diploma in Education. As a result, their teaching method shall be improved upon in order to better the performance of students in mathematics.