An Expository Data Analysis of Student Teachers’ Perception of Interest in Mathematics and Sciences in Uyo Educational Zone in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Teaching practice is a compulsory training exercise undertaken by final year students in every College of Education in Nigeria. While in the field for the practice, the student teachers develop certain perception of students’ interest in the classroomregarding mathematics and other science subjects. Thus, the paper ensures an interpretative analysis of the perception of these student teachers on the student’s interest in mathematics compared with other science subjects. Seventy-one (71) student teachers of mathematics and other science courses in school of scienceof 2019/2020 academic session were involved in the study. The Mathematics and Science Students Interest Questionnaire (MSSIQ) was used for the collection of data, the data was analyzed descriptively using percentage. Findings of the study indicated that there is variation in the interest of students in mathematics and sciences. It is recommended that teachers should devise a means of inspiring student in the process of their teaching to enable them have interest in mathematics because of its relevance in their career later in life.