ACCESS TO STEAM EDUCATION AS CORRELATE TO JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' INTEREST AND PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA
Sr No:
Page No:
35-42
Language:
English
Authors:
Prof. Steve D. Oluwaniyi, Dr. Festus S. S. Oloda*, Dr. Orobosa S. Okwuoza, Omoh J. Onortina, Dr. Joseph M. Timayi, Idowu C. Ojo, Ogundeyi, S. Gboyega, Bukola C. Akinwolere, Egbuniwe, O. Nancy, Owonuwa, S. Oke
Received:
2025-06-16
Accepted:
2025-06-30
Published Date:
2025-07-04
Abstract:
This study is on access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
(STEAM) Education as correlate to junior secondary school students' interest and performance
in mathematics in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. The
research had three research questions and tested two hypotheses. The study adopted a
correlational research design on a population of 8,206 public junior secondary school students in
Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT. One hundred and eighty (180) students were selected from two
schools using multistage sampling technique as the sample for the study. The instruments used
for data collection were: Access to STEAM Education Questionnaire (ASEQ) and Mathematics
Interest Inventory (MII). Students’ Mathematics Achievement Performance Scores were also
collected from the sampled schools. The reliability coefficients of ASEQ and MII were 0.83 and
0.81 respectively. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics (Mean and
Standard deviation) while the hypotheses were tested using the Spearman Rank Correlation at
0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that students had access to STEAM education
which boosted their interest for mathematics. However, there was a weak negative relationship
between access to STEAM Education and Students’ Academic Performance in Mathematics
(SAPM). Moreover, a strong positive significant relationship (r = 0.600, p = 0.000; p<0.05)
between access to STEAM education and students’ interest in mathematics was obtained while
the negative relationship between access to STEAM education and SAPM was not significant (r
= -0.071, p = 0.173; p>0.05). This was due to the inability of teachers to cover the scheme of
work, poor exam condition, small sample size taken in this study, and availability of STEAM
facilities. The study concludes that access to STEAM education enhances students’ interest in
mathematics while academic performance in mathematics was negatively correlated. Based on
the findings, it is recommended that Secondary school authorities should introduce specialized
STEAM subjects, clubs or projects that will relate real world applications and interdisciplinary
learning. In addition, teachers should design interdisciplinary projects in science and art that
would explicitly demonstrate how STEAM approach is used to promote deeper interest for
mathematics. Also, the government should ensure STEAM projects and lessons are closely
aligned with mathematics curriculum standards to reinforce students’ performance in
mathematics.
Keywords:
Access, STEAM Education, Interest, Performance in Mathematics