Students’ Performance in Mathematics in form Four Examinations at selected secondary schools in Kinondoni District, Tanzania

This research aimed at finding out factors affecting performance in mathematics for Tanzanian students so that communities, the government, non¬governmental organizations, researchers; academician may use the information to find out ways to address this challenge. Specifically, this study intended to investigate factors behind poor secondary school students’ performance in mathematics in Tanzania. Five objectives guided this study. The study was deemed significant in that it informs secondary school stakeholders about the factors inhibiting high performance in Mathematics. The study will also assist stakeholders to understand Mathematics fundamental opens up opportunities for the stakeholders to address the problem that are applicable in human beings day to day life. The study was conducted in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam Region from where nine (9) secondary schools were purposively selected. From these nine schools, seven (7) heads of schools, forty six (46) teachers, forty two (42) students and six (6) senior education officers participated in the study. Interview and questionnaires were used to collect qualitative data based on the study objectives. Findings revealed that performance in Mathematics in some private secondary schools was good due to adequate Mathematics teachers, on-job teachers training programmes, high teachers’ motivation to the teachers and satisfactory working conditions. Contrarily, in government secondary schools performed poorly due to scarcity of Mathematics teachers, low teacher motivation and poor working conditions. The researcher recommends that the government should motivate Mathematics teachers, increase the number of Mathematics teachers, provide on job training for teachers and improve the quality of teaching and learning environment.