Students' preparedness to take Mathematics IV under the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) : an evaluation

• Main Author: Naz, Jisela M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1993
• Subjects: Cognition > Tests and scales; High school students; Mathematical ability > testing; Analysis; Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1472
• Institution: De La Salle University

The main objective of the study was to determine how prepared the students are to take mathematics IV under the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) and also to determine the cognitive level of the fourth year students.ProceduresDescriptive-normative survey through the use of the Teacher-Made SEDP Mathematics Diagnostic Test for fourth year students and the Cognitive Skill Test was the research design used in this study. The researcher constructed a diagnostic test which was validated by administering it to groups of fourth year students of Laurel High School. The final form of the test was given to the 721 incoming fourth year students of Dr. Juan G. Nolasco High School (DJNHS).The Cognitive Skill Test, on the other hand, was provided by the Philippine Science and Mathematics Council (PSMC) and was administered to 251 students selected at random from the incoming fourth year students of DJNHS. Findings The study revealed that incoming fourth year students were poor in mathematics and about 66 percent of them were unprepared to tackle mathematics IV. Most of the students were deficient in all topics in the SEDP Mathematics III. The results of the Cognitive Skill Test revealed that only 30.28 percent and 0.40 percent of the students could be categorized under the early formal and formal stage respectively. This implies that most of the students were incapable of abstract and logical reasoning. Conclusions; In the light of the foregoing findings, it can be concluded that:1. There is no mastery of mathematical concepts among the students. 2. The senior students fare poorly in Mathematics. 3. Students cannot tackle mathematical activities that require abstract and logical reasoning. 4. The poor performance of the students might be due to the teachers inability to implement the spiraling approach effectively. Recommendations: From the findings of the study, the following recommendations are presented:1. A diagnostic test in mathematics should be given in each year level at the beginning of the schoolyear. 2. Remedial classes should be organized to unlock the mathematical difficulties of the students. 3. Seminars and training should be conducted among teachers for their professional growth and training. 4. A cognitive skill test should be administered at the start of the school year so that teacher can prepare remedial measures that will train the students to think logically. 5. A study on the preparedness of the high school seniors to tackle College Freshman Mathematics should be undertaken.