Instructional materials in the teaching and learning mathematics in primary schools in Katooke sub county Kyenjojo district, Uganda.

Abstract

The study was carried out in Katooke Sub County Kyenjojo district with an aim of establishing the effects of instructional materials in the teaching and learning of mathematics in primary schools. Data was collected using two types of instruments namely Questionnaires and the interview guides. The questionnaires were used to collect data from 5 head teachers and 25 teachers while the interview guides were used to collect data from 25 pupils, making a total of 55 respondents. The objectives of the study were;To find out the importance of using instructional materials in the teaching and learning of mathematics in primary schools of Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District, To Assess the factors hindering accessibility of instructional materials in primary schools in Katooke sub county, Kyenjojo District, To Suggest Measures that can be taken to improve the availability of instructional materials in primary schools. The researcher found out that, the major instructional materials are very important in the teaching and learning, this is because they help pupils to assess themselves, promote personal revision and encourage pupils to practice on their own, however their accessibility is hindered by inadequate funds, corruption, theft of such materials from school and laziness. Therefore, the ministry of education and sports should increase funding to schools to enable them purchase enough instructional materials which can help in the teaching and learning of mathematics and the government should implement strict measures to reduce corruption and theft of instructional materials in schools. The research work is gained towards knowing the effects of instructional materials in the teaching of Mathematics concepts in primary schools in Katooke sub county, Kyenjojo District. Using instructional materials has made life in the teaching profession interesting having seen the role they play, although some researchers believed that the place of instructional materials in the teaching and learning process should be restricted to a particular media of the related facts that aids easy remembering by learners should be employed. This research work reveals that both audio visual technology media as stated, has great importance to mathematics teaching and learning. Educational goal attainment depends a lot on the quality of teaching, teaching methods, and teaching aids. The study concluded that there are lack of instructional materials and resources necessary for the effective implementation of all areas of mathematics teaching in primary schools of Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo district. Most teachers do not use necessary instructional materials to teach. The lack of necessary instructional materials and resources reduce the students to mere passive participants in the learning process. Consequently, there is erosion of enthusiasm in the teaching/learning process by both teachers and students. The study finally recommended that, the ministry of education and sports should increase funding to the school to enable them purchase enough instructional materials. Teachers should engage themselves in producing locally made instructional materials which can help in the teaching and learning of mathematics. The government should implement strict measures to reduce on corruption and theft of instructional materials. Teachers should mutually help each other to acquire all the materials necessary to carry out materials for teaching mathematics.