Abstract

MATHEMATICS TEACHERS? KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: KEY TO SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Ayanwoye O. K and Oyeniran J. O

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Abstract Mathematics teachers? practice of the professional standards has been attributed to the sustenance of change in growth and development in Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was employed to evaluate mathematics teachers? knowledge and practice of professional standards in Oyo state using 440 teachers and 5830 pupils randomly and purposefully selected from primary and secondary schools in Oyo state. Two validated instruments: Mathematics Teachers? Professional Standards Knowledge Questionnaire (MTPSKQ, r = 0.83) and Professional Standards for Nigerian Teachers Checklist (PSNTC, r = 0.92) were used in the study. Two research questions were answered using descriptive statistics and the results showed that Mathematics teachers in Oyo state had poor knowledge (?=1.44,S.D.=0.64) and practice (?=1.33,S.D.=0.61) of the professional standards. The implications to mathematics teaching were discussed. Periodic series of workshops and seminars to sensitize on the job teachers on the needs to be well acquainted with their professional standards and the infusion of a course on professional standards into the curriculum of the would-be-teachers at all levels were recommended. Keywords: Professional Standards, Professional Teachers, Teaching, Pupils. Word count: 166.

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