Causes of students Aversion to Joining the Mathematics Department, Faculty of Education Janzour, University of Tripoli (2024-2025) A field Study

Abstract

This study aims to explore the reasons behind students' reluctance to enroll in the   Mathematics Department at the Faculty of Education in Janzour – University of Tripoli, from their own perspectives, amidst the challenges facing this major at the university level. The study focused on the academic, social, and psychological factors that may influence students' choice of this major, despite the importance of mathematics in various fields in the job market. A stratified sample of 95 students enrolled in other scientific departments (Physics, Chemistry, English Language, and Classroom Teacher) was selected, representing approximately 33% of the student population in those departments. The results revealed that academic factors constitute a major barrier, represented by the difficulty of the coursework, which requires intensive mental effort (72%) and regular attendance (56%). The role of social and guidance factors in reinforcing this phenomenon also emerged, as the lack of adequate academic guidance in the pre-university stage (70%) and negative social influences from those in their surroundings (65%) contributed to forming a stereotypical image of the major's difficulty. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no statistically significant differences attributable to the variables of scientific department, father's educational qualification, or academic grade point average (p-value = 0.486). This indicates that the phenomenon of reluctance is widespread across different student categories, regardless of these characteristics, and is not exclusive to one group over another. The study recommends the development of integrated guidance strategies at the secondary school level and the reframing of the societal discourse about the mathematics major, with a focus on its career opportunities to change the associated negative stereotype.