Difficulties Encountered By Grade 10 Learners in Mathematics Concepts in Tuy National High School, Tuy, Batangas

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Students at Tuy National High School were struggling in learning Mathematics. Based on the result of the 2015 National Achievement Test, Grade 10 students got a low result in Mathematics with an MPS of lower than fifty percent. Because of this, the researchers concluded that the students have difficulties in learning Mathematics and hope to identify it and think of some instructional strategies such as intervention programs that will be effective in helping students cope with these difficulties.

METHODS

The descriptive survey method was utilized in this study. Its major objective is to determine the perceived difficulties in learning Mathematics in terms of curriculum, learning process, assessment, learners' materials, and learning environment. This study utilized a survey questionnaire. The respondents of this study were composed of 93 Grade 10 learners of Tuy National High School. The data obtained were treated statistically using Percentage Ranking, Weighted Mean, Mean percentile Score, Standard Deviation and Pearson r.

RESULTS

Results showed that most male learners have found difficulties in learning Mathematics. The perceived difficulties encountered by Grade 10 learners were assessment, curriculum, learners' materials, learning process, and learning environment. The students had no mastery of the competencies in Mathematics 10 since the computed MPS was lower than the expected passing scores. Most of the competencies were not mastered which implies that the students encountered difficulties in almost all competencies in Mathematics 10. It was also showed that there is no significant relationship between the gender profile and perceived difficulties in learning Mathematics. On the other hand, there was a significant relationship between the age profile and the perceived difficulties. A proposed intervention plan was designed to serve as a basis to improve students' learning in Mathematics.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the findings, it is recommended that Mathematics teachers must be alert in identifying the perception of difficulties in learning Mathematics encountered by the learners; that the students' study habits should be improved for them to have better learning in studying Mathematics; that the students' prior knowledge on the lessons in Mathematics 10 should be strengthened and improved by giving them more time in learning and some sets of activities to improve their mastery of the lessons; and that the students must be encouraged to have positive ideas and attitudes in learning Mathematics.