Student attitudes towards Mathematics in Ugandan secondary schools

This report is part of a study in which secondary school students' attitudes towards mathematics were investigated. The sample consisted of 254 (123 males and 131 females) senior three (Grade 9) students in nine secondary schools in three districts of Central Uganda. The data were collected using a Student Attitude Towards Mathematics Inventory on student mathematics anxiety, confidence to learn mathematics and motivation to mathematics. The data were analysed using the Rasch model. The results indicate significant differences in all the attitudes variables measured between the male and female students. The students in the high-performing schools indicated higher attitudes than the students in the low-performing schools. It is argued that student attitudes towards mathematics be addressed to improve student achievement in mathematics. Implications for secondary mathematics teaching are suggested.