Factors Affecting Bhutanese Secondary School Students’ Ability in Solving Mathematical Word Problems: A Case Study

Abstract

Mathematical word problems are part of the school curriculum and are taught at all levels of education in Bhutan. However, it poses difficulties for many students because of the complexity of the solution process. There are various factors that affect students’ ability to solve mathematical word problems. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting Bhutanese secondary school students' ability to solve mathematical word problems. This study employed a qualitative case study approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Four mathematics teachers and four students were selected as participants based on purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that factors such as language proficiency, reading skills, and contextual understanding affect students' ability in solving mathematical word problems. Moreover, the language proficiency of students, as well as teachers, was the most important factor for solving mathematical word problems. The study recommends the Ministry of Education places more importance on reading activities across schools in Bhutan to enhance language proficiency.