Observation

A good number of candidates attempted this question. The candidates were able to point and answer the demands of the question.

The required answer should include the following points:

• Statement of the central theme.
• The restrictions imposed by society and school on children’s growth and development.
• The caged bird and the boy’s experience of nature.
• The boy is excluded from participation in nature’s activities, being restricted in school.
• Implications for adulthood: loss of early childhood joy.
• The boy describes his experiences of school harrowingly.

Candidates’ performance in this question was good.