Investigating mathematics anxiety in out-of-field teachers enrolled in Ireland’s upskilling programme

Abstract

In 2009 a national study by Ní Ríordáin and Hannigan revealed that 48% of secondary school mathematics teachers in Ireland were classified as ‘out-of-field’ meaning they were certified in subjects other than mathematics. This alarming statistic led to the creation of a national two-year programme to upskill these teachers to qualified status. Based at the University of Limerick, the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT) is facilitated through centres nationwide. Since its inception in 2012, the PDMT has successfully reduced the percentage of out-of-field mathematics teachers to 25%. Initially the program required teachers to have timetabled hours in mathematics ensuring they had some teaching experience in the subject. Many had studied mathematics in their primary degrees; now the PDMT is available to any secondary school teacher seeking qualification in mathematics resulting in a diverse participant profile with many having no prior mathematics teaching. However, research shows that many university students, including mature students, have debilitating mathematics anxiety; and mathematics anxious teachers risk passing on MA to their students. This study hypothesises that mathematics anxiety affects out-of-field mathematics teachers and proposes interventions to support future PDMT students in reducing mathematics anxiety.