Mathematical words problem: an exploratory study on the difficulties faced by the pupils in Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Aing, Sri Aman, Sarawak / Sharifah Jama'aiah Wan Zain

In Malaysia, like many other countries, problem solving is one of major aspect in mathematics curriculum which required students to apply and to integrate many mathematical concepts and skills as well as making decision. However, students were reported to have difficulties in mathematics words problem solving. The focus of this study is to explore the difficulties the difficulties facing by the pupils and the techniques the teachers use to overcome it in Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Aing, Sri Aman, Sarawak. The major mathematics skills and cognitive abilities in learning that caused the difficulties especially in mathematical words problems-solving among students from students’ and teachers’ point of view. The study was carried by using 30 pupils from a primary school in SK Abang Aing and focused on four samples of pupils and two teachers that were selected through purposeful sampling. A qualitative approach is used in order to have clearer understanding. Apart from the observation done, face to face interviews were carried out. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Data finding was analyzed descriptively. Data findings showed that respondents lacked in many mathematics skills such reading and understanding the language used within a word problem, recognising and imagining the context in which a word problem is set, forming a number sentence to represent the mathematics involved in the word problem, carrying out the mathematical calculation and interpreting the answer in the context of the question. Information skill was the most critical. The deficiency of these mathematics skills and also of cognitive abilities in learning inhibits the mathematics words problem-solving. This understanding on how the deficits influenced the mathematic words problem-solving is expected to give effective guide lines in preparing diagnostic instruments and learning modules in order to develop the mathematics skills.