ANALYSIS OF TOPICS PERCEIVED DIFFICULT BY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM ( EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background to the Study
Mathematics is said to have begun for a very long time when men had learnt to take note of the number of things around them and associating those things with fingers and toes. When we begin to think about what mathematics is all about, we find that it is easy to give a sample and straight forward answer. Adekoya (1994) refers to mathematics as the cream of all discipline whether in the social or natural sciences and this why many people have given various explanations to describe the discipline when critically viewed from different angles.
Curriculum is a vital component of any educational environment. It is central to education at all levels in the world. As education is central to the society, so is curriculum which is the heart and live wire of education(Alade, 2005). Alade (2011) defines curriculum as a programme of education prepared for definite group of learners within a time frame in order to achieve the intended behavioural outcomes. The term curriculum therefore can me said o be the total environment in which education takes place. Ajibola (2008) sees it as the engine which propels the education achieves for both the individual and the society what they hold as a prize.
Mathematics is a subject in the curriculum of secondary schools in Nigeria. The subject is made compulsory for all students in the Senior School Certificate and General Certificate OˈLevel Examination conducted by West African Examination Council (WAEC). The subject is considered very basic to all science and technology as well as science related courses.
