INFLUENCE OF SELF AND PEER-ASSESSMENT IN ENHANCING MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN LAGOS-STATE"(IMPLICATIONS FOR EVALUATORS).

Abstract

In Nigerian secondary schools, traditional assessment practices are predominantly teacher-led and largely depend on summative testing. While these methods serve evaluative purposes, they often fall short in promoting students’ active engagement and metacognitive growth. Conversely, 21st-century assessment approaches emphasize learner-centered strategies that encourage students to take ownership of their learning. This study investigated the transformative influence of self and peer assessment as formative evaluation strategies in enhancing mathematics performance among adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study employed a quasi-experimental control group design, with Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students in public schools as the population. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select participants.  Instruments for data collection was a researcher-developed questionnaire titled Influence of Self and Peer Assessment on Mathematics Performance (ISPAMP) and a Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT), with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.794 for the questionnaire and  MAT yielded 0.82. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that self and peer assessment had a significant positive effect on students’ mathematics performance. Learners who participated in structured self and peer evaluation demonstrated higher achievement levels and developed more positive attitudes toward mathematics compared to those assessed using traditional methods. The study therefore recommends that schools and educational stakeholders in Lagos State and beyond should adopt self and peer assessment as integral components of classroom assessment practices, particularly in mathematics education. Teachers should be equipped through professional development programs to effectively design, implement, and monitor these strategies using well-structured rubrics, feedback protocols, and reflective tools.