Comparative Review of Mathematics Textbooks used in Junior Secondary Schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Résumé En

This study carried out a comparative review of the Mathematics Textbooks used in Junior Secondary Schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Four research questions and three hypothesis were raised to guide the study. The population of the study consist of the mathematics textbooks used in JSS3 in government approved secondary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. The sample size of this study consist of 3 Mathematics Textbooks used across 22 Government approved schools selected via stratified sampling in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The researcher-made checklist titled Mathematics Textbooks Review Checklist (MTRC) was used as the main instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by two experts in Mathematics Education, two experts in Test and Measurement and two Mathematics teachers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, means and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while Analysis of variance was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance The result revealed that MAN Mathematics, New General Mathematics and New Concept Mathematics are the major Mathematics textbooks used in Junior Secondary Schools in Makurdi LGA of Benue State, Nigeria. The Mathematics textbooks align with the mathematics curriculum, and measured up in terms of content and appearance. It was recommended that the textbooks’ authors and publishers should be trained to follow a given standard. The government should set up the standard and the pattern that every textbook authors and publishers should follow. Workbooks and teachers’ guide should also be written to accompany all recommended Mathematics textbook.