MATHEMATICS ANXIETY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COURSE AND CAREER CHOICE OF GRADE 11 STUDENTS

Abstract

This study evaluates mathematics anxiety and its impact on the career choice of grade-11 students. The descriptive method of research was used to determine the impact of Mathematics anxiety over their choice of track for Senior High. A structured questionnaire was made by the researchers for the purpose of gathering information for the study. It includes the causes of students’ Mathematics anxiety, and the effects of Mathematics anxiety on the course and career choice among Grade-11 students. Before constructing the questionnaire, the researchers made an interview to those Grade- 11 students. Based on the interview the researchers found out the factors that causes students mathematics anxiety. And these factors are: the teachers, students’ perception towards Math, students’ behaviour/ attitude towards Math, students’ experiences in attending math class, and taking math exams. It helps the researchers to make the questionnaire. After retrieving the accomplished copies of the questionnaire, result were tallied, tabulated and treated statistically. The researchers made use of a four-point scale in which one (1) corresponds to the lowest and four (4) corresponds as the highest. Other statistical tools that were used in the study are ranking, weighted mean and composite mean. The results show that there is a significant relationship between mathematics anxiety and the course and career choice of Grade-11 students. Because of mathematics anxiety, most of the respondents tend to choose Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS) as their study track. The researchers found out that mathematics anxiety has a big effect on the course and career choice of Grade-11 students. The foregoing findings and conclusions paved way for the researchers to recommend measures to solve students’ mathematics anxiety.