Some diagnostics learning problems on basic arithmetic skills of junior high school students

Abstract. The main obstacle in mathematics learning at junior high school level is the lack of
students' skills in performing basic operations of integers and fractions. This skill should be
impeccable on elementary school level, nonetheless a big number of junior high school
students experience impediment to follow the learning activities because they did not have
enough pre-requisites on basic arithmetic. The similar circumstances are most probably also
taken place at senior high school level. This study investigated students’ skills on basic
arithmetic and then presents some analyses of diagnostic learning problems. The crucial
findings in this research are various facts that might be ignored by teachers over the years, but
they were alleged to be roots of the leading causes of the low student skills and understanding
in basic operations of numbers. The diagnostic results will be worthwhile to improve the
method and approach of mathematics teaching not only at junior high school but also at
elementary school. Accordingly, the article offers several approaches to overcome the
problems found in the study