Attitude and gender stereotypes on girls’ Mathematics performance in the Kenya certificate of secondary education in Kathiani sub-county, Kenya

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Published Sep 6, 2023
https://doi.org/10.47434/JEREDA.4.3.2023.256
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Vol. 4 No. 3 (2023): CURRENT ISSUE

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Erastus Nzou Mwove
Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Isaac Wambua Muasya
Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Lewis Muli Ngesu
Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: The performance of female students in Mathematics in the national examinations and especially in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) has been perturbing for quite a long time. This menace has been partly attributed to girls’ attitude towards the subject and partly to gender stereotypes towards Mathematics.


Purpose: This study aimed to examine attitude and gender stereotypes to Mathematics on girls’ performance in Mathematics in the Kenya certificate of secondary education (K.C.S.E) in the Kathiani sub-county of Machakos County- Kenya


Methodology: Descriptive survey design anchored this research study. The study comprised of 1804 girls, 87 Mathematics teachers and 32 principals of secondary schools as the target population. The reliability of the research instruments was tested through the application of the test and retest criteria in two secondary schools and a correlation coefficient 0.7 and above was realized.


Results: The study found that Mathematics was not an interesting subject to the girls for they hated the subject .The research further established that girls had developed a negative attitude towards the subject. The girls’ negative attitudes affect the learning and the performance in the subject.


Recommendations: The teachers are advised to treat both boys and girls equally. This can be done by giving both of them the opportunities to be group leaders in their Mathematics groups as this will boost the girls’ confidence towards the subject.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Mwove, E. N., Muasya, I. W., & Ngesu, L. M. (2023). Attitude and gender stereotypes on girls’ Mathematics performance in the Kenya certificate of secondary education in Kathiani sub-county, Kenya. Journal of Educational Research in Developing Areas, 4(3), 256-269. https://doi.org/10.47434/JEREDA.4.3.2023.256
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