GIRLS' ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS AT INTERMEDIATE LEVEL IN FATA

This paper investigated the attitude of girls’ students towards mathematics and factors affecting their attitude towards the subject at intermediate level in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). The sample of the study was three hundred and thirty 330 pre-medical girls’ students from six 6 higher secondary schools and inter-colleges in Khyber Agency. A convenience sampling technique was used in the selection of schools while students were randomly selected. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire with (alpha=0.97) and were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that girls’ attitude towards mathematics was negative. Socio-cultural factors, Stereotypic effects, math’s anxiety, lack of role model in mathematics, deficiency of Mathematics teachers and lack of counseling services in schools/colleges were the main factors responsible for students negative attitude towards the subject. It was, therefore, recommended that revision of present math’s course, introducing math’s short courses, inclusion of description of the female role models in the subject, launching of effective awareness campaigns about mathematics career for girls, overcoming the deficiency of mathematics teachers in schools/colleges and establishing counseling services in schools/colleges were necessary for changing students’ attitude to provide them opportunities to join science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields