CLASSROOM INTERACTIVE PATTERN AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS AMONG PRIVATE AND PUBLIC JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OWERRI, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was designed to establish the descriptive nature of classroom interactive pattern and attitude of students towards mathematics and to ascertain if there were differences among participants based on school type (private and public). Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Owerri Municipal Local Government Area was selected and schools in the area were
public and private schools. Simple sampling technique was finally used to select six schools (3 private and 3 public), and One hundred and eighty (180) students (30 per school). One hundred and sixty-four (164) respondents that filled the questionnaires administered were used for the research. One multi-stage questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were used for the analysis. The result shows that there is no significant difference in Junior Students’ attitude towards Mathematics between public and private schools selected. Also, the students demonstrated positive classroom interaction perception and attitude towards the subject. Their perception towards the mathematics teachers’ attitude to teaching was also positive.