Adebule (2004) submitted that there is a consensus of opinion about the fallen standard of education in Nigeria. He further stated that parents and government are in total agreement that their huge investment on education is not yielding the desired dividend. Ashiaka (2010) revealed that teachers equally complain of students low performance at both internal and external examinations, Aremu and Sokan (2003) submitted that the search for the causes of poor academic performance and achievement in mathematics is unending. Some of the factors
identified by them are; motivational orientation, self –esteem /self efficiency, emotional problems of which phobia is inclusive, study habits, teacher consultation and poor interpersonal relationship among students. The national mathematical centre Abuja (NMC) 2009 in attempt to revamp mathematics teaching and learning at the secondary school level, has also successfully researched into the causes and remedies for abysmal failure in WAEC and NECO and JAMB mathematics examinations.
It has discovered that the poor performance in promotion/public examination in mathematics has more to do with the teachers’ method of teaching then the contents of the curricula of the school mathematics (NMC) 2009. It was this empirical background that necessitated and spurred the center’s mathematics improvement programme (MIP) project to create a new teaching methodology to enhance students’ performance in mathematics. Bolaji (2005) equally submitted a study on the influence of students attitude towards mathematics, he found that the teachers’ method of teaching and his personality greatly accounts for the students positive attitude toward mathematics. The importance of School location to a successful academic achievement cannot be overemphasized. Where the school is located determine to a very large extent the patronage such school will enjoy.
Similarly, the entire unattractive physical structure of the school building could de –motivate learners to achieve academically. This is what Isangedighi (1998) refers to as learners’ environment mismatch according him, this promotes poor academic performance. The means or strategies employed by teachers in an attempt to impact knowledge to the learners are referred to as methodology which is another factor that could influence the students’ academic achievement, sometimes, when a teacher teaches and at the end of the lesson, evaluation is carried out, and it is discovered that students are unable to carryout the behavioral or instructional objectives , what the teacher needs to do is to examine his teaching methods rather than looking at students as the cause. Most untrained teachers point accusing fingers on the students rather than on themselves when the students are unable to carryout the expected behavior at the end of the lesson or in examinations. Therefore teachers’ planning should include; choice of appropriate teaching materials, choice of appropriate teaching method, intensive research on the topic to be taught, and determination of the objectives for the lesson generally.
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