Investigating the Influence of Mathematical Theorems on Grade-9 and 10 Students’ Academic Achievements; The Case of Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the Influence of Mathematical Theorems on selected Secondary School Students’ Academic Achievement; The Case of Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia. The primary aim was to assess how the teaching and understanding of mathematical theorems affect students’ academic performance. Although relevant to all high school students, the study was limited to those in Adwa town of Tigray, Ethiopia. The study was motivated by the researcher’s classroom experience, where students showed low motivation and found it difficult to understand thprocess of stating and proving theorems. Furthermore, there was limited existing research on this topic in the local context. A descriptive research design was employed, and both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, like frequency distributions, percentages, pie charts, bar graphs, and tables to display and interpret the data. Furthermore, qualitative data were thematically analyzed to complement the quantitative findings. The findings indicated that mathematical theorems have a significant impact on students’ academic achievement, but several challenges hinder understanding—mainly students’ and teachers’ motivation, lack of awareness, and insufficient background knowledge in the subject. The study suggests that improving awareness, especially among students, can help address these issues. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends interventions such as workshops, seminars, and tutoring sessions to support both students and teachers. These strategies can foster a more engaging learning environment, improve conceptual understanding, and ultimately enhance academic performance in mathematics.