Senior high school mathematics teachers’ perception and use of assessment in the classroom

Abstract

The study investigated senior high school mathematics teachers’ perception and practices of classroom assessment since assessment is considered a critical tool for assessing the achievement of learning objectives in particular and educational goals in general. The study adopted a mixed-methods design. Sixty-two mathematics teachers were sampled from the selected schools to participate in the study. The instrument used in the data collection was a questionnaire. The internal consistency of the instrument designed had a calculated Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.74. The quantitative data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results from the study revealed that mathematics teachers had a positive perception about classroom assessment as most of them indicated that assessment is a tool to inform teaching and learning. There were, however, few teachers who still had a negative perception about assessment. Their reasons being that assessment had always been a tool for assigning grades and also used to promote students, hence had little benefit to teaching and learning process. The study also showed that the mathematics teachers’ practices of classroom assessment did not match up to the views they held about classroom assessment. Retraining of teachers through seminars and workshops were therefore recommended.