Analytical Study of Mathematics Textbooks in the Basic Education Stage in the Sultanate of Oman According to NCTM Standards

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the availability of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards in the content of mathematics textbooks at the basic education stage in the Sultanate of Oman. The study used the descriptive-analytical approach, adopting the method of content analysis through using a content analysis tool that included (43) indicators distributed on the four NCTM standards related to the field of geometry, after verifying their validity and reliability. The study population consisted of mathematics textbooks (first and second semesters) for ninth-grade students in the Sultanate of Oman in the academic year 2018/2019, while the sample consisted of Geometry units in the content of those books, which are (5) units in the two semesters. The researchers used specific and accurate procedures during the analysis process, by relying on the topic as a unit of analysis, the paragraph as a unit for recording, the criteria and indicators as categories for analysis, and then calculating the frequencies and percentages of the number of times the indicators were included in the content of those books. The findings of the study revealed that the percentage of including NCTM standards and indicators in the content of the mathematics books for the ninth grade in the Sultanate of Oman was weak with regard to some indicators and very weak and non-existent with respect to most indicators. Therefore, the study recommended the need to develop the mathematics curriculum in the Sultanate of Oman, especially textbooks, taking into account international standards in mathematics education, as well as the philosophy and aspirations of Omani society.