FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND TEACHERS’ EFFECTIVENESS IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ETINAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of free and compulsory education programme and teachers' effectiveness in teaching and learning mathematics in primary schools in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study comprised all the 984 primary five teachers in all 41 public primary schools in Etinan Local Government Area. A sample of 246 primary five teachers in Etinan local Government Area which represents 25% approximately of the total population was used for this study selected through simple random sampling technique. Free and Compulsory Education Programme and Effectiveness in Teaching Mathematics Questionnaire (FCEPETMQ) was used as the instrument for the study. The instrument validity and reliability were determined. Cronhach's Alpha statistic was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument which yielded reliability coefficients of 0.74 0.85, 0.73 and 0.70. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering the research questions while dependent t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at.05 level of significance. The findings showed significant influence on free and compulsory education programme and teachers' effectiveness in teaching mathematics in primary schools in Etinan Local Government Area. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that the government and relevant stakeholders should sustain and expand the Free and Compulsory Education Programme to cover more schools and pupils, to further enhance teachers' effectiveness in teaching mathematics. The government and school administrators should provide regular training and support for teachers to enhance their instructional methods and effectiveness in teaching mathematics.