Technology integration in basic school mathematics instruction: exploring teachers’ perceptions, readiness, and challenges

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of technology as a catalyst for improving mathematics teaching and learning, its integration in basic school classrooms remains inconsistent, particularly in developing contexts where teachers often face pedagogical and contextual constraints. This study examined basic school teachers’ perceptions of technology incorporation in mathematics instruction, assessed their readiness for technology integration, and explored the challenges influencing its implementation. The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-method design involving 150 basic school mathematics teachers selected through stratified random sampling for the quantitative phase and five purposively selected teachers for the qualitative phase. Data were collected using an adapted structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS (Version 27), while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that teachers generally held favourable perceptions of technology incorporation in mathematics instruction. However, overall readiness was significantly below the neutral midpoint, whereas willingness to integrate technology was significantly above it; technological competence and confidence were also significantly below the midpoint. The qualitative findings further identified inadequate technological resources, limited professional development, insufficient technical support, workload demands, and pedagogical uncertainties as the major barriers to effective technology integration. The study concludes that although teachers recognise the instructional value of technology and demonstrate a willingness to adopt it, meaningful classroom integration requires strengthening teachers’ technological and pedagogical capacities alongside improved institutional support and infrastructure.