Challenges Hindering Student Learning in General Mathematics at Mary Our Help Technical Institute for Women, Cebu

الملخص

Mathematics is often perceived as a challenging subject, with Filipino students performing significantly lower in math compared to their global peers. Contributing factors include poor mastery of basic skills, stigma, language barriers, and ineffective learning strategies. To address these challenges, a student-centered approach that incorporates prior knowledge, hands-on learning, and higher-order thinking is essential. Accordingly, this study aimed to enhance the delivery of General Mathematics for Senior High School students at Mary Our Help Technical Institute for Women (Cebu). The study employed a descriptive qualitative research design and utilized interviews with fourteen (14) Grade 11 students and two (2) General Mathematics teachers to gather qualitative data. Purposive sampling was used in selecting the student participants, while total population sampling was employed for the teachers. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing the data gathered from the students and teachers. The findings of this study highlighted the challenges encountered in developing student learning such as weak fundamental math skills, negative attitudes, and instructional issues such as poor time management and ineffective questioning. Despite these challenges, study recommends emphasizing a student-centered approach by: (1) improving teachers' instructional delivery and providing authentic learning experiences to enhance students' fundamental mathematical skills; (2) creating and promoting a positive learning environment to address negative attitudes toward mathematics; and (3) incorporating higher-order thinking questions to facilitate meaningful assessment of student learning.