Gaps between inside school and out-of-school mathematics in Ghana

Abstract

Researchers are now pointing to the fact that mathematics that was once regarded as cultureⁱ² and value free is no longer regarded as such. Views about the nature of mathematical facts being absolute and unquestionable have changed in recent times. Mathematics education researchers have therefore highlighted the need for the recognition of children‟s out-of-school mathematical practicesⁱⁱ in scaffolding their learning in mathematics classroom. This paper reviews theories and research on culture nature of mathematical knowledge. It also discusses the possible reason why Ghanaian primary school mathematics curriculumⁱⁱⁱ; does not reflect much of the out-of-school mathematical practices and the way forward.

Keywords: nature of mathematics, mathematics and culture, ethnomathematics, mathematics curriculum