Availability and Use of Learning Resources for Basic School Mathematics Instruction in Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58421/misro.v4i2.376

Authors

  • Edward Abatanie Padmore Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya (NJA) College of Education
  • Ibrahim Mohammed Gunu University for Development Studies
  • Clement Ayarebilla Ali University of Education, Winneba https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3268-6452

Keywords:

Availability, Basic School, Learning Resources, Mathematics Instruction

Abstract

The study investigated the availability and use of mathematics learning resources at the basic school levels. Ascertaining the availability, use, and mathematics learning resources were the epicenters of this study. The methodology employed was the descriptive survey research design. Through the census technique, 102 junior high school mathematics facilitators participated in the study. The data collection instrument was the questionnaire. Experts and two lecturers validated the instruments using appropriate design, sampling techniques, and data collection tools. The repetitions of the same participants for four different research questions also yielded a 0.80 reliability coefficient. The researchers used frequency and percentage to analyze the data. The results showed that attribute blocks, base ten blocks, and geoboards were the worst unavailable resources. Also, even though facilitators were involved in improvising a few resources, most were not improvised. Lastly, the major challenges were curriculum content, textbooks, and school funds, making many mathematics learning resources nonimprovisable. It was therefore recommended that practical courses in mathematics learning resources construction and usage be incorporated into teacher training and regular professional training and retraining programs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Mathematics Common Core Programme (CCP) Curriculum for JHS1 (B7) - JHS3 (B9). Accra: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), 2020.

R. Yeboah, U. K. Abonyi, A. W. Luguterah, and D. L. Chapman, “Making primary school science education more practical through appropriate interactive instructional resources: A case study of Ghana,” Cogent Education, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2019.1611033.

N. B. Ihechukwu, “Impact of Instructional Scaffolding Approach on Secondary School Students Achievement in Mathematics,” Malikussaleh Journal of Mathematics Learning (MJML), vol. 3, no. 2, p. 46, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.29103/mjml.v3i2.3168.

C. Umuhoza and A. Uworwabayeho, “Teacher’s Use of Instructional Materials in Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Rwandan Primary Schools,” African Journal of Teacher Education, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1–16, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.21083/ajote.v10i2.6659.

Charles-Ogan, G. Ibibio, and M. Sanderson, “Practical utility of mathematics concepts among senior secondary school students in Rivers State,” European Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 15–22, 2016.

R. O. Bukoye, “Utilisation of Instruction Materials as Tools for Effective Academic Performance of Students: Implications for Counselling,” in The 2nd Innovative and Creative Education and Teaching International Conference, Basel Switzerland: MDPI, Jun. 2019, p. 1395. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2211395.

R. E. Simamora, S. Saragih, and H. Hasratuddin, “Improving Students’ Mathematical Problem Solving Ability and Self-Efficacy through Guided Discovery Learning in Local Culture Context,” International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 14, no. 1, Nov. 2018, doi: 10.12973/iejme/3966.

K. S. Ameen, K. Abdullahi, and K. H. Gbadamosi, “Availability and Utilisation of Instructional Materials for Teaching Mathematics in Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria,” Journal of Educational Studies in Science and Mathematics, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 26–44, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.29329/jessm.2024.1051.2.

J. Anamuah-Mensah, E. D. Ananga, J. Wesbrook, and G. Kankam, National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana-Guidelines. Accra: Ministry of Education, 2017.

D. Peck, “Top 28 Instructional Design Theories, Models, and Principles,” https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/instructional-design-theory. Accessed: Mar. 08, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/instructional-design-theory

M. B. Ndebil and C. A. Ali, “Cooperative learning as a strategy of improving mathematics performance and attitudes,” International Journal of Educational Innovation and Research, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 62–74, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.31949/ijeir.v3i1.7163.

L. Vygotsky, Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Prosesses. London: Harvard University Press, 1978.

C. A. Ali and E. K. Davis, “Harnessing Indigenous Basketry Resources for Prenumber and Early Number Work,” Journal of Education and Learning, vol. 7, no. 2, p. 210, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.5539/jel.v7n2p210.

S. A. S. Udma, Y. Heryandi, and A. Muchyidin, “Miskonsepsi Siswa dalam Menyelesaikan Soal Numerasi Ditinjau dari Gaya Kognitif,” ALGORITMA: Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 95–110, 2024.

R. Yeboah, U. K. Abonyi, A. W. Luguterah, and D. L. Chapman, “Making primary school science education more practical through appropriate interactive instructional resources: A case study of Ghana,” Cogent Education, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2019.1611033.

N. Saad and S. Sankaran, “Technology Proficiency in Teaching and Facilitating,” in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education, Oxford University Press, 2020. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.591.

D. A. Obara and C. M. Were, “Teachers` level of support in the use of teaching and learning resources of learners who are physically challenged in regular primary Schools in Kisumu West Sub County, Kenya.,” Adv Soc Sci Res J, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 92–112, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.14738/assrj.73.7832.

L. Fan, L. Trouche, C. Qi, S. Rezat, and J. Visnovska, Research on Mathematics Textbooks and Teachers’ Resources. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-73253-4.

O. O. Okoji and M. A. Olubayo, “Assessment of Availability and Utilisation of Instructional Resources for Teaching Primary School Mathematics in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria,” African Journal of Educational Studies in Mathematics and Sciences, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 1–12, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.4314/ajesms.v17i2.1.

S. Pham, “Facilitators’ Perceptions on the Use of Math Learning Materials in Elementary Classrooms,” University of Toronto, Toronto, 2015.

N. P. Loc, N. P. P. Oanh, N. P. Thao, T. Van De, and L. V. M. Triet, “Activity theory as a framework for teaching mathematics: An experimental study,” Heliyon, vol. 8, no. 10, p. e10789, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10789.

J. Baidoo and C. A. Ali, “Students’ mathematics and real life contexts in solving algebraic word problems,” Al-Jabar : Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 483, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.24042/ajpm.v14i2.19272.

C. A. Ali, “Using indigenous artefacts to support conceptual field approach of learning special trigonometric angles,” Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, vol. 3, no. 2, p. em047, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.29333/mathsciteacher/13698.

A. Casteel and N. Bridier, “Describing Populations and Samples in Doctoral Student Research,” International Journal of Doctoral Studies, vol. 16, pp. 339–362, 2021, doi: 10.28945/4766.

E. Weyant, “Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 5th Edition,” Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries, vol. 19, no. 1–2, pp. 54–55, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1080/15424065.2022.2046231.

J. W. Creswell and V. L. P. Clark, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 3rd ed. New York : SAGE Publications, Inc, 2017.

Y. Wang, “Investigating students’ use of learning resources in mathematics: a comparative study of secondary schools in Shanghai and England,” University of Southampton, Southampton, 2018.

Collins, “Shanghai Maths Project.” Accessed: Mar. 09, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://collins.co.uk/collections/shanghai-maths-primary

J. W. Creswell, Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 4th ed., no. c. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2014.

R. B. Okongo, G. K. Ngao, N. K. Rop, and W. J. Nyongesa, “Effect of Availability of Teaching and Learning Resources on the Implementation of Inclusive Education in Pre-School Centers in Nyamira North Sub-County, Nyamira County, Kenya.,” Journal of Education and Practice, vol. 6, pp. 132–141, 2015, [Online]. Available: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:53345914

Downloads

Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

[1]
E. A. Padmore, I. M. Gunu, and C. A. Ali, “Availability and Use of Learning Resources for Basic School Mathematics Instruction in Ghana”, J.Math.Instr.Soc.Res.Opin., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 243–256, Apr. 2025.

Issue

Section

Articles