ABSTRACT

THESIS: A Comparative Assessment of the Performance of Selected Public and Private Schools in Mathematics 7: Basis for Learning Difficulties in Real Numbers
RESEARCHERS: Fanuncio, Rowena Mae B. Huit, Richell G. Javier, Rajah Mae R. Nicolas, April Joy A. Resulto, Paul James M.
ADVISER: Mr. Anjo M. Abaratigue The main goal of the study is to compare the Performance of Selected Public and Private Schools in Mathematics 7 as basis for learning difficulties in Real Numbers. Specifically, this seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What are the strengths of the respondents in Real numbers of the public and private schools? 2. What are the learning difficulties or weaknesses of the respondents in Real numbers of the public and private schools? 3. What are the performances of the respondents in Real numbers of the public and private schools? 4. Is there a significant difference between the performance of public and private schools? 5. Is there a significant difference in the learning competencies in Mathematics 7 as basis for learning difficulties in Real numbers between public and private schools?
The study utilized a descriptive method of research. This method was used to obtain information concerning the current status of a phenomenon to describe which exist with respect to variables as condition in a situation. This is suitable in this study where the intention is to describe the level of learning difficulties in mathematics 7 of the grade 8 students between public and private school with respect on their test results.
The following are the findings in this study: 1. The strengths of the respondents according to type of school (1) Public; out of fourteen (14) learning competencies, seven (7) of it were found as their strengths. These are (a) describes and illustrate well – defined sets, subsets, universal sets, and the null sets, (b) describes, represents and compares the different subsets of real numbers, (c) describes and illustrates the absolute value of a number on a number line as the distance of the number from 0, (d) performs the operation of powers of integers, (e) defines and illustrates rational numbers and arrange them on a number line, (f) performs operations on rational numbers and illustrates their properties , and (g) describes principal roots and tells whether they are rational or irrational. And (2) Private; Out of fourteen (14) learning competencies, six (6) of it were considered as their strengths. These are (a) describes and illustrate well – defined sets, subsets, universal sets, and the null sets, (b) describes, represents and compares the different subsets of real numbers (c) describes and illustrates the absolute value of a number on a number line as the distance of the number from 0, (d) identify and classify set of integers, (e) defines and illustrates rational numbers and arrange them on a number line , and (f) performs the operations of decimals and converting decimal to fraction and vice versa. 2. The learning difficulties or the weaknesses of the respondents according to type of school (1) Public; out of fourteen (14) learning competencies, two (2) of it was found as learning difficulties or weaknesses. These are (a) performs the operations of decimals and converting decimal to fraction and vice versa, and (b) writes very large or very small numbers in scientific notation. And (2) Private; out of fourteen (14) learning competencies, only two (2) were found as learning difficulties or weaknesses. These are (a) performs the order of operations, and (b) performs the operations of decimals and converting decimal to fraction and vice versa. 3. The overall performance remarks of the both public school and private school is in the beginner stage. The calculated mean of the public school is 74.82 and the standard deviation is 4.86 while the calculated mean of the private school is 74.86 and the standard deviation is 5.77. 4. The tabular value 1.96 is greater than the computed value 0.10. It means that there is no significant difference between the performance of public and private school. 5. Out of fourteen (14) learning competencies, (5) of it were rejected and have the significant difference. These are describing and illustrating well – defined sets, subsets, universal sets, and the null sets, Describing, representing and comparing the different subsets of real numbers, Identifying and classifying set of integers, performing fundamental operations on integers: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and describing principal roots and telling whether they are rational or irrational. And the others were all accepted and don’t have any significant difference.
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Out of fourteen (14) learning competencies in real numbers, seven (7) of it was considered as strengths of Public School. On the other hand, six (6) out of fourteen (14) learning competencies in real numbers was considered as strengths of private school. 2. In Public School, the lowest percentage of correct response is in the performing the operations of decimals and converting decimal to fraction and vice versa, while in Private School the lowest percentage of correct response is in the performing the orders of operations. 3. The performance of both public and private school is in the beginner stage. 4. The null hypothesis is accepted and there is no significant difference between the performance of public and private school. 5. There is no significant difference in the following learning competencies: (1) performs fundamental operations on whole numbers (2) describes and illustrates the absolute value of a number on a number line as the distance of the number from 0 (3) states and illustrates the different properties of real numbers (4) performs the operation of power of integers (5) defines and illustrates rational numbers and arrange them on a number line (6) performs the orders of operations (7) performs operations on rational numbers and illustrates their properties (8) performs the operations of decimals and converting decimal to fraction and vice versa (9) writes very large or very small numbers in scientific notation.
There is a significant difference in following learning competencies: (1) describes and illustrate well-defined sets, subsets, universal set, and the null set, (2) describes, represents and compares the different subsets of real numbers (3) identify and classify set of integers (4) performs fundamental operations on integers (5) describes principal roots and tells whether they are rational or irrational.
There are recommendations that were drawn based on the findings and conclusions. These are as follows: 1. Students should develop their strengths and keep on practicing their learning difficulties or weaknesses, in order for it to become strength also. 2. Teachers should have a longer span of time involving the real numbers. They should also create some activities that can help them motivate their students in learning real numbers. 3. Investments on some materials and references regarding real numbers must be made by the teachers so that their students and the school can achieve high remarks in their overall performance. 4. School administrators and supervisors should interventions of activities to improve the mathematical ability of the students under their institute such as peer teaching or coaching and remedial teaching. 5. Further study should be conducted in line with this area, the performance of public and private schools. Conduct a study with factors such as age and sex. Interview teachers, school administrators, and supervisors to have some background about the performance of the schools.