Kiswahili is a subject that is examined in Secondary schools. The subject is compulsory among other subjects. Kiswahili us a subject when well performed can land one to competitive courses such medicine and teaching among others.
Students have a negative perception in the subject because the language was born out of the interaction between the Bantus and Arabs at the coastal strip,it has therefore made it difficult for other groups of people to grasp the contents of the subject.
Kiswahili as a subject has three papers ,kiswahili paper one,kiswahili paper two and Kiswahili paper three. The three papers count for the final score of the students . Many teachers try to emphasize two or one papers thus making it difficult for the students to perform well in the subject.
The kiswahili paper one(insha)normally has four questions whereby a student is supposed to answer only two questions. The paper normally has a total of 40 Marks and thus each question has 20 marks. Question one is compulsory and therefore a student will choose one question from the remaining questions.
Question one which is compulsory and it’s normally tested so as to understand if the students are well equipped with skills of comprehension and writing skills. Some of the issues that should be considered include;
Muundo,Kichwa ,Utangulizi,Mwili,Hitimisho,Urefu,Lugha ,Hati,Maudhui,Uhalisia,Msamiati,Nafsi,Wakati,Muda,Lugha na ubunifu.
Kiswahili teachers should comprehensively explain each item so that the students can familiarise themselves with each item.
Some of the items to be covered under question one are;Barua ya kirafiki,Barua rasmi ,Barua kwa Mhariri,Barua pepe,Barua ya mwaliko, Risala, Hotuba,Memo,Ripoti,Kumbukumbu,Mazungumzo,Dayolojia,Mahojiano,Wasifu,Tawasifu, Wasifukazi,Tahariri,Tahikiki,Ratiba,Shajara,Tahadhari,Resipe,Taarifa,Matangazo,insha za mjadala,methali na mdokezo.
The teacher should explicitly explain to the learner on every composition (insha) and thereafter give the students some exercise to work on and then mark the books .it’s prudent that the subject teacher talks to the individual students after marking of the exercise books.
Question two(insha za mjadala)the questions entail students to explain about emerging issues.Normally the questions entails emerging issues(masuala tambuzi/ibuka) in our communities .
This question is normally categorized into two(zile za kufafanua,kueleza)aghalabu za kufafanua humhitaji mwanafunzi kueleza kuhusu jambo fulani.
Za kujadili humhitaji mtahini kueleza pande mbili. The most important thing is for the learner to highlight key points(maudhui). The key points should be more than 7 or 8 for him or her to score highly .It’s important to note that each key point should start on the first sentence.
A learner who specializes on these question can easily score good Marks on the question since it only needs well elaborated points for a student to score good Marks.
Question three normally is tested on Methali. A students who understands the meaning of the same can write a story which collaborates well with the Methali. Irrelevancy can make a student score lowly in these question. It’s therefore good that the students comprehends well the meaning and it’s application in writing so as he or she can come up with a catching and creative story. It’s advisable that the students avoids the question if he or she can’t comprehend the meaning well.
Question four normally covers on the words you are given and you are either asked to start with the words or finish with the words .A student should also be creative to score more Marks in the question.
Lastly a good student who wants to pass in Kiswahili paper as a whole should maximize on paper one . Atleast the learner should score atleast 20 Marks and above for him to be assured good score in the whole subject.
