1.1 Background of the Study
The basic tool for technological take off and sustenance of industrial growth which in turn could lead to improve economy and higher standard of living in Nigeria is Mathematics. The above may be accountable as reasons why the federal government of Nigeria has made mathematics compulsory both at the primary and secondary levels. Moreover mathematics is a subject that cut across all other sciences in mathematics.
Therefore, in our match towards scientific and technological advancement we need nothing short of good performance in mathematics at all levels of schooling unfortunately. Performance of pupils in mathematics at the secondary school education has not improved in the past decade (Umolnyang 1999) several factors may have been adduce for poor performance of pupils in mathematics according to Oluwayemisi (2010) and Wikipedia free home work or assignment refers to exercise or tasks assigned to pupils by their teachers to be completed outside the class. Some common homework assignment may include quantity or period of reading to be performed writing or typing to be completed, problems to be solved a social project to be built some mathematics, exercise to be solved or other skills to be practiced. It is an extension or elaboration of classroom work. According to Oluwayemi (2010) and Wikipedia free encyclopedia (2014) the objectives of assigning home work to pupils are the same as schooling in general to increase the knowledge and improve the abilities and skills of the pupils views force what pupils have already learnt, prepare them for incoming lessons and extend what they know by having them apply it to new situations. It gives opportunity to parents to participate in the childrens education.
Adebule (2009) and Ologunwa (2012) examination bodies like West Africa Examination Councils (WAEC), National Examination Councils (NECO), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) in their chief examiners reports for the past decade showed poor result of pupils in mathematics.
According (Weessay 2014 ) even thought a different set of constraints and challenges in education has been Faced worldwide educational development has been actively promoted by means of adapting to rapid global changes, ensuring quality of education is one of the six education for all (EFA) goals agreed by over 160 governments during the world education forum in Dakar Senegal in (2010). The achievement of high school pupils has been a great concern to educators, teachers, parents, and government even though measures have been taken to improve the quality of education at large proportion of pupils skills perform poorly in the classroom and externally organized examinations. Thus homework assignment might be an invaluable tool to develop the skills of the learner and helped them to perform better in examination. Homework assignment according to Esan (1996) is the participation of pupils in learning activities outside the classroom teaching learning environment. Mathematics as a discipline emphasizes problem solving and the acquire skills, the learners must be actively engaged in home assignment given to him by him by the teacher. However , Haddock (2006) called for the abolition of homework citing it as rote or grind work designed to take up children’s time without offering tangible benefits also Bennetl and Khalish (2006) opined that homework is of little educational value and that for young children (below 15years) it may have a negative effect on learning. But Bishop (2008) opined that homework can also teach pupils to concentrate, write reports, spend time alone and develop a curiosity to be a continuous learner. Some researchers in the last decade had begun to focus on the relationship between school assignment and pupils academic performance and their findings have greatly strengthened the case for school assignment. Esan (1996) opined that same studies have established a close relationship between the school and the home as regards achievement in school.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The effect of homework on pupils achievement is a highly debated issue and has been for over a century with our current educational system being compared to countries around the world there has been a push to raise the standard in our schools so that we can compete in the global market place (Hyde, Else Quest, Alibali Knuth and Romberg (2006). 0ne of the variables being scrutinized is homework.
How much to give, how often to give it and what should entail are the question that researchers studying the homework achievement the relationship have strived to address. The question of how have work affects pupils achievement is an important one considering the ultimate goal as a teacher is for pupils to be successful and make an impact in the world.
This study focuses on how completing and correcting homework affects pupils achievement in mathematics. In view of the poor performance of pupils in mathematics in our primary schools in Nigeria take home assignment to pupils will be advantageous to improve the performance of pupils. Thus the research examined the performance of pupils “who were being exposed to take home assignment in mathematics and those that were exposed only to class work i.e without home assignment. It is also aimed at finding out if the same group of pupils retains the concept better.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The purpose of this is to investigate the effect of take home assignment on pupils performance in mathematics. The aim is to investigate whether given take home assignment to pupils in mathematics is better than restricting them only to class work.
The objectives is also to make useful suggestion that will be based on the findings in the act of giving home assignment to the pupils on mathematics.
1.4 Significance of the study
The significance of this study is to identify the effects of home work or assignment on the academic performance of primary school pupils in mathematics.
This study will be beneficial to teachers parents pupils and the society at large in a sense that it exposes each of them to their role in child intellectual and academic development.
1.5 Research question
The following research questions were used in this research work.
1.6 Scope of the study
This research work covers 5 primary schools in Oyo west local government area of Oyo state.
The schools are:
1.7 Definition of terms
Home is the place in which one’s domestic affections are centered.
Mathematics is an abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure and change and the relationships between these concepts.
Mathematics is also define as an ability to count, calculate and use different systems of mathematics at different levels.
Performance is an activity (such as singing a song or acting in a play that a person or group does to entertain an audience.