AN ASSESSMENT OF CAUSES AND COPING STRATEGIES OF THE SHORTAGE OF MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS

Abstract

This paper investigates the causes and coping strategies of the shortage of mathematics teachers in senior secondary schools in the Sokoto Metropolis. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Two research questions were answered in the study. The study's population consisted of 135 mathematics teachers from 35 public senior secondary schools in Sokoto, and the sample was representative of the population, therefore all the responses were used. The instrument used for collection of data consists of an 18-item adopted questionnaire titled “Teacher Shortage and Coping Strategies Questionnaire (TSCSQ)”. The test-retest approach was used to pilot test the instrument, and it yielded a reliability coefficient index of 0.83. Based on the findings of the study, it was among other findings that over workload, high student enrolment, poor funding of education, and poor working conditions were the foremost causes of the shortage of mathematics teachers in senior secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis. It was then recommended that the government should train and employ more qualified mathematics teachers and provide well-ventilated classrooms with teaching aids and furnished staff rooms.