Would female student teachers at primary teacher education colleges study mathematics were it optional?

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Would female student teachers at primary teacher education colleges study mathematics were it optional?
Abstract
In this this article we discuss findings from an investigation of whether female student teachers would choose to study mathematics if it were optional for primary teacher education in Malawi. A mixed methods research methodology was used to collect data through survey and focus group discussions (FGDs). Five hundred and twenty three female students from 6 public teacher education colleges completed a questionnaire, and 160 of them participated in FGDs. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data while a thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. The findings show that 68% of female students would choose to study mathematics while 32% would not. This correlated with the students’ mathematics scores at the end of their secondary school national examination. Those students with high score passes opted for mathematics and those with low score passes did not, suggesting that performance at secondary school influenced their confidence in studying mathematics. Female student teachers’ reasons for choosing or not choosing mathematics were it optional are classified into 5 categories: the perceived usefulness of mathematics, inner motivation to study mathematics, the nature of the college mathematics content, how mathematics courses are taught at colleges, and gender stereotype in mathematics lessons. We discuss these in relation to the Malawian government’s agenda of increasing participation of females in mathematics, science, technology, and engineering.
Publication
South African Journal of Education
Volume
41
Pages
S1-S10
Date
2021-12-31
Journal Abbr
South African Journal of Education
Library Catalogue
ResearchGate
Citation
Mwadzaangati, L., & Kazima, M. (2021). Would female student teachers at primary teacher education colleges study mathematics were it optional? South African Journal of Education, 41, S1–S10. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v41ns2a2021
Country