Exploring use of teaching aids in the teaching and learning of mathematics in secondary schools in Uganda Maracha district

The research to explore the use of teaching aids in the teaching and learning of mathematics in a secondary school in Uganda maracha district. The study tried to find out how secondary school teachers are using teaching aids to teach mathematics. The researcher employed a qualitative research approach and used case study research design as research methodology. The researcher used interview and focus group discussion techniques to collect data on the mentioned topic in `Yi`ba secondary school in Maracha district. From this sampled school, the researcher recruited six participants (mathematics teachers) selected purposively from the population of teachers in the school. Data collection was for seven days daily. Data was analyzed using narratives after identification of themes from the raw data collected using coding system to categories the information obtained during data collection period. From data analysis, it was established that teachers perceive the use of teaching aids very important in teaching mathematics in secondary schools and identified some of them as facilitating learners understanding and arouse their interest to learn the subject. Data further revealed that teachers use a number of aids both local and purchased to teach mathematics. But amidst that there are many challenges that hinders the use of teaching aids to teach mathematics, that is difficulty of getting teaching aids for some topics, storage, financial sport, time factor, large class size, skills and attitude towards the use of teaching aids. This has made it difficult to use teaching aids always to teach mathematics. From the findings recommendations were made to the school administration, teachers and other stake holders. These were to make sure that the use of teaching aids should be supported by organizing trainings for the teachers, providing teaching aids which cannot be easily improvised and got from the local environment promptly. Despite this study, more research may be required in assessing how the poor performance in mathematics is related to non-use of teaching aids during mathematics lesson