Gender Differences in Mathematics Interest and Achievement in Junior Secondary School Students, Niger State, Nigeria

This study assessed the influence of gender differences in mathematics interest and achievement of Junior Secondary School Students (JSS) in Niger State, Nigeria. Correlation Survey design was adopted for the study. The target population for this study consists of 5,368 (2,705 male and 2,663 female) JSS 1 students in 2012/2013 academic session from 92 public and private Junior Secondary Schools in Zone ’B’ of Niger State. The sample of this study consist 361 (182 male students and 179 female) and multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was employed in the selection. Two instruments were developed for the study which consists of an Inventory on Students’ Interest in Mathematics (ISIM) and a Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). Descriptive statistic (mean and Standard Deviation), Chi square, t test, biseria correlation and it is associated simple regression of Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method were used to establish relationship between the variables and to test null hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. The instruments were validated and the reliability coefficient was established using the test-retest method. The data obtained were analyzed using mean with the criterion mean set at 2.5.The findings of the study revealed that male students excel in Mathematics more than their female counterparts.. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others that teachers should make use of alternative teaching methods like the use of games and simulations to motivate students’ interest (both male and female) in the learning of Mathematics.