The Impact of Motivation on Pupils’ Academic Achievement and Learning Outcomes in Mathematics among Secondary Schools in Sierra Leone: A Case Study Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District Southern Sierra Leone

Abstract

Motivation can be viewed as an internal state arouses, direct, and maintains behavior. This simply means motivation is a reason of students’ thinking in a given situation . Mathematics teachers should wisely utilize available learning resources to enhance positive motivation, reinforce neutral motivation, if any, and neutralize any negative attitudes towards learning and performance in mathematics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of motivation on pupils’ academic achievement and learning outcomes in mathematics among secondary school pupils in Njala and Taiama kori chiefdoms Moyamba district. A total of 100 questionnaires were administered in the four schools and twenty five questionnaires from each school. Data was collected using Mathematics academic performance Questionnaires (MAPQ) for students and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings show the major problem face by students in learning mathematics is the language used by the teachers and inadequate mathematics textbooks and learning resources.