Weakness and Remedies
Majority of the candidates were unable to:
- mention the functions of listed parts of a seed planter;
- mention inorganic fertilizers that could correct phosphorus deficiency;
- name the materials that could be used to attract bees to a new beehive;
- explain the causes of damage to maize during storage;
- state Mendel’s laws of inheritance;
- plot the graph on diminishing returns;
- state the effects of subsidy withdrawal on agriculture;
- name the insect pests of orange
- write legibly and concisely;
- spell correctly.
Based on the observed weaknesses the Chief Examiners recommended as follows:
- Adequate teaching and coverage of the syllabuses. Aspects of the syllabus such as farm mechanization/agricultural engineering, crop and animal production, agricultural economics amongst others should be covered by teachers with particular emphasis on the new areas of the syllabus;
- Improved reading culture is advocated among candidates;
- Teachers should emphasize the acquisition of practical skills in the subject through school farms, field visits, excursions;
- Workshop should be organized for teachers to enable them update their knowledge and skills;
- Only graduates of Agricultural Science/Agriculture should be allowed to teach the subject in Senior Secondary Schools in West Africa.