Observation

(a) Candidates were required to narrate a story on a commendable demonstration of patience. In doing so, they were expected to highlight some points which should include the following:

• To define the word patience;
• To state the name of the person who was patient;
• The status of the person;
• The instance;
• Where and when;
• His/her reason(s) for being patient;
• What  he/she has achieved by demonstrating patience, etc.

 

Candidates’ performance in this question was encouraging.

(b) The question is an expository essay and the candidates were required to outline some good qualities they would expect in their life partners. These are expected to conform with parameters  for choosing a life partner in Hausa traditional marriage. Thus, some major points required include:

1. The meaning of marriage;

 

1. The wife:

-  Her family background;
-  The status of her parents;
-  Her character;
-  Her level of education;
-  Her marital status:
›  A maiden;
›  A widow;
-  Her level of socialization;
-  Her physical structure, etc.

 

 

1. The husband:

 

-  His family background;
-  The status of his parents;
-  His character;
-  His level of education;
-  His occupation;
-  His marital status:
›  A bachelor;
›  A widower;
›  A polygamist, etc.
-  His level of socialization, etc.

Many  candidates attempted the question and their performance was good.

(c) The question above is an argumentative essay, it sought the opinion of candidates as regards the gender of the children that are more helpful to their parents. In attempting the question, candidates were expected to take a position and advance convincing reasons for that.

1. Topic proposal:

 

                -  Male children are more helpful to parents;
Or:
-  Female children are more helpful to parents;

ii.         Male children are more helpful to parents:  
Candidates that proposed this opinion were expected to highlight the following points:

-  They are more helpful in the farm work and orchards;
-  They are more helpful in the running of traditional occupations such as:
›  Blacksmith;
›  Carpentry;
›  Tanning;
›  Dyeing;
›  Shopkeeping, etc.
-  They  represent their  parents at some occasions;
-   They take over some responsibilities when their parents became old, etc.

 

 

 

 

iii.      Female children are more helpful to parents: 
Candidates that proposed this opinion were expected to feature the following points:

-They are more helpful in domestic activities such as:
›  Cooking;
›  Winnowing;
›  Pounding;
›  Sweeping;
›  Washing;
›  Fetching water, etc.
-  They are more helpful in the running of domestic trade;
-  They are more helpful in looking after their  younger ones;
-  They accompany their mothers for visitations, etc.        

Many  candidates attempted the question and their performance was good.

(d)The candidate was required to write a letter to his/her principal explaining the problems that  students are facing in the school and suggesting some measures that can be taken to address them. The following features are mandatory:

• Address of the writer;
• The date;
• Address of the principal;
• Salutation;
• The heading;
• Content;
• Conclusion.

 

The candidates  were expected to identify some problems that are very common in the schools such as:

-  Lack of sufficient teachers in different subjects:
-  The causes of the lack of teachers in the school:
›  Mismanagement;
›  Lack of peaceful co-existence;
›  Lack of security;
›  Improper transfer of teachers;
›  Improper release of teachers for  in-service training, etc.
›  Lack of good roads, etc.

 

-   Poor feeding;
-   Lack of sufficient classrooms and hostels;
-   Lack of social amenities;
-   Lack of seats and tables;
-   Lack of practical equipment and tools;
-   Lack of security;
-   Lack of medical facilities;
-   Irresponsible teachers;
-   Bullying;
-   Cases of theft;
-   Cultism, etc.

Suggestions:

-   Provision of an effective management which includes:
›  Monitoring of the student - teacher relationships;
›  Monitoring of student - student relationship;
›  Provision of sound rules and regulations;
› Provision of strong measures to shun cultism in the school;
›  Provision of well planned security network in the school;
›  Provision of sufficient teaching and learning materials;
›  Employment of sufficient qualified teachers, etc.

-  Provision of a condusive atmosphere for teaching and learning, which includes:

            ›  Provision of medical facilities;
›  Provision of sporting facilities and equipment;
›  Proper feeding;
›  Establishment of clubs and societies;
›  Improvement of the standard of classroom and student’s hostels, etc.

Many candidates attempted the question and their performance was commendable.

(e) The statement above is a proverb which means: In digging a pit of wickedness you should make it shallow, perhaps you might be the one to fall inside. Candidates were required to give its meaning, narrate a story that ends with the proverb and further identify other similar proverbs, for example:
-   Mugunta fitsarin faqo.
-   Alhaki kwikwiyo ne, mai shi yake bi.
-   Sharri kare ne, mai shi yake bi.
-   Munafunci dodo, yakan ci mai shi.
-   Qaiqayi koma kan masheqiya.
-   Maganin cuta rashin yi wa wani.

Few candidates attempted the question and their performance was fair.