Abstract:
This study examined the factors that influence the use of instructional resources/materials
in the teaching of mathematics in secondary schools. Among the instructional materials
that were investigated were: Textbooks, mathematical tables, models and real objects,
Geometrical instruments, chalk board and the overhead projector. The study focused on
their use in terms of adequacy and improvisation, quality and relevance, teachers' and
students' skills and lastly maintenance and storage. The research design that was used in
the study is descriptive survey. The research instruments included questionnaire,
interview schedules and document analysis. The sampling techniques that were used in
this research are stratified, simple random and purposive sampling. The respondents
comprised 24 mathematics teachers and 372 form two students. Four teachers were
interviewed. The study was based on Edgar Dales cone of experience theory. Data
analysis was done by use of descriptive statistics. The study revealed that the selected
instructional materials are not adequate except for the chalkboard. The quality and
relevance of materials is satisfactory .The study also found that students and teachers
lacked the skills to use some of the resources. It was also found that maintenance and
storage of instructional materials is still a point of concern, because replacing them is not
cheap hence temptation to do without them. The main recommendations are that school
administrators, teachers, students and parents should be sensitized on the importance of
provision of instructional materials in adequacy, quality, relevance and they must be well
maintained and stored.