Is Gender a Factor in Mathematics Performance among Nigerian Senior Secondary Students with Varying School Organization and Location?
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Date
2011
Authors
Awofala, A. O. A.
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Abstract
The mathematics performance of graduating senior
secondary year three students over a period of 10 years was
investigated for possible gender differences. Data were drawn
from students’ (880 males and 900 females) mock examination
mathematics results from eight secondary schools (2 rural
schools, 2 urban schools, 2 single-sex schools and 2 coeducational schools) in southeastern part of Nigeria. The
independent t-test analysis of significance revealed a significant
effect of gender in mathematics performance among the sample
data. Also, there were significant differences in the mathematics
performance of single-sex male and female students and rural
male and female students, all in favour of male students. Based
on the findings, the study recommended among others that more
co-educational secondary schools be established to engender
healthy rivalry between the male and female students in
mathematics education since co-educational schools have the
tendency to mitigate the performance gap between male and
female students in mathematics.
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Keywords
Gender difference, mathematics performance, school location, school organization