BECE Past Questions & Answers – 2002 (RME)

April2002
RELIGIOUSANDMORALEDUCATION SOLUTIONS SECTIONB

ESSAY

1. (a) TheTenCommandments.

(i) I am theLORDyour God, who broughtyou out of theland ofEgypt, outof thehouse ofbondage.
You shallhaveno othergods beforeme.

(ii) You shallnot make foryourself agraven image(an idol), which looks like anythingin heaven or onearthorunder theearth;
You shallnot bow down to them orservethem;

(iii) You shallnot takethe name oftheLORDyour God in vain; fortheLORDwillnot hold himguiltless who takes his namein vain.

(iv) Remember thesabbath day, to keep itholy.
Sixdaysyou shalllabor,and do allyour work;
but theseventh dayis a sabbath to theLORDyourGod; in ityou shallnot do any work,.

(v) Honoryour father andyour mother, thatyour daysmaybelongin thelandwhich the
LORDyour Godgivesyou. (vi) You shallnot kill.
(vii) You shallnot commit adultery. (viii)You shallnot steal.
(ix) You shallnot bear falsewitness againstyour neighbor.

(x) You shallnot desire another person‟shouse/ wife/ manservant /maidservant /ox/
anythingthat belongs toanotherperson.

(b) Why these commandments areimportant.

(i) God himself wrote the commandment with his finger (Exo.24:12, Exo.31:18) (ii) The first five teach us how to relatewith God
(iii) Thelast fiveteach us how to relatewith fellow humans
(iv) Theyform the fundamentals / basics of constitutions / laws of manynations
(v) Theyguideus on how toliveupright lives
(vi) Their observancepromote peace, loveand harmonyin thesociety
(vii) Their observanceattractsblessings

2. (a) How witchcraft is acquired. (i) Throughgifts
A person, who alreadyhas witchcraft,gives agiftto someonewho is notyet possessed. Oncethe recipient receives the gift and uses it, thewitchcraft is transferredfrom the giverto therecipient.
(ii) By inheritance
A person who does not havewitchcraft mayinheritcertain things from awitchcraft possessed relativewho dies.If theinheritor receives anduses theitems he/she mayalso acquirethewitchcraft.
(iii) Throughthewearing of certainclothes / adornments
When aperson who doesnot havewitchcraft wears certain clothes or adornment such as bead, chains, bracelets, etc, that arewitchcraft-possessed, theymayalsoacquire witchcraft.
(iv) Throughfood
A person can acquirewitchcraft through eatingfood that contains awitch-making substance.
(v) Thoughrituals
One canalso acquirewitchcraft through rituals that areperformed for/on /byaperson, either knowinglyor unknowingly.

(b) Reasons why people believeinwitches andwizards.
(i) Some people haveopenlyconfessed that theyarewitches / wizards
(ii) Thescriptures(Bible/ Quran, etc) makes mentionof them
(iii) People haveheard several stories about the activities ofwitchesand wizards
(iv) Some people havepersonallyexperiencedtheactivities of witches andwizards
(v) Some people havehad dreams about witchesandwizards.

3. (a) RevelationinIslam

(b) Messages that disclose /makeknown certain things about Allahand his willforhumankind

Theimportanceofrevelationto the Muslim.
(i) It makes the Muslimappreciatetheoneness of Allah
(ii) It makes the Muslimknow thewillof Allah and submit to him
(iii) It shows theMuslimhowto pray
(iv) It shows theMuslimhowto relatewith others
(v) It makes known thepromises ofAllah forhis followers

(vi) It directs theMuslimto obeytheteachings of Allah
(vii) Itgives the Muslim understanding about various issues oflife

4. (a) HowGhanaians greet eachother
(i) Byverbal expression, such as „Goodmorning, Welcome, etc‟ in various languages
(ii) Byshakinghands(the right hand must beusedalways) (iii) Bybowing/ bendingtheknees briefly
(iv) Bysalutingwith the righthand
(v) Bywavingtheright hand
(vi) Byprostrating(lyingon theground with the facedown) (vii) Byremovingone‟shat
(viii) Byloweringone‟scloth (formen)

(b) Theimportanceofgreetingsinthesociety.
(i) It shows respect to others
(ii) It shows one‟srecognition and adherenceto customs /cultures
(iii) It creates afriendlyatmosphere
(iv) It helps to starta conversation
(v) It enables oneto feel welcome and atease
(vi) It is a sign of proper upbringing
(vii) It promotes peace, love and harmony
(viii) It helps to lower relational tension amongpeople
(ix) It helps to resolve conflicts

5. Explanationofthe responsibilities ofa childto the community
(i) Helpingto clear bushyareas in order to prevent diseases/infections and maintain sanitation.
(ii) Helpingto clearchokedgutters in order to prevent diseases/infections andmaintain sanitation.
(iii) Helpingto tidyup dirtyareas in order to prevent diseases/infections and maintain cleanliness.
(iv) Helpingto fetch water for thehome/ for elders tobeused fordomestic activities such as washing, bathing, cleaningandcooking
(v) Helpingto wash dishes,clothes, etc forthehome/ for elders to ensurecleanliness and maintenanceof personal hygiene
(vi) Reportingoffensive behaviour/ criminal activities to the authorities, so that the offenders can bedealtwith, and thereby, reducing the social vices in the community
(vii) Participatingincommunal labourfortheconstruction ofsocial amenities, such as schools, publictoilets, libraries, etc, therebyhelpingwith thedevelopmentofthe community.

6. (a) Examples of bad deeds.

(i) Abusingdrugs

(ii) Prostitution
(iii) Armed robbery
(iv) Havingpre-marital sex
(v) Tellinglies
(vi) Insultingothers
(vii) Showingdisrespect to / disregard for others
(viii) Beinglateto school /church / other engagements
(ix) Beingirregularat school / church
(x) Refusingto do one‟shomework or not doingitproperly
(xi) Refusingto do one‟shouseor school work/chores
(xii) Dressingindecently/ inappropriately
(xiii) Performingbadlyin one‟stest or examination
(xiv) Refusingto help peoplewhen theyneed help which onecan provide. (xv) Disobeyinginstructions from elderlypeople
(xvi) Refusingto surrender one‟sseat for an elderlyperson
(xvii) Indiscriminate litteringof the environment (xviii)Keepingour bodiesand surroundings dirty (xix) Wastingwaterand electricity

(b) Effects of baddeeds
(i) Shame and disgraceto theperson and his family/school/church, etc
(ii) Arrest, prosecutionand imprisonment
(iii) Punishment at homeor at school
(iv) Loss offriends / difficultyin making good friends
(v) Low reputation
(vi) Low productivity
(vii) Health Problems /Infections and diseases
(viii) Educational challenges
(ix) Loss of skills and knowledge
(x) Poverty/ financial difficulty
(xi) Failureto achievetargets/ objectives
(xii) Death
(xiii) Unemployment
(xiv) Mob action /Lynching
(xv) Broken homes
(xvi) Low self esteem
(xvii) Termination of education (droppingout of school) (xviii)Spiritual weakness
(xix) Delayed Education
(xx) Depression/ mental challenges

7. (a) Types ofwork
(i) School work– Work done at school as part ofthecurriculum
(ii) Home chores– Work done at home/ in ourhouses as part of ourresponsibilities
(iii) Communal work– Work donein /forour communities as part of oursocial responsibilities
(iv) Occupational work – Work doneon aregularbasis, especiallyto earn income

(v) Humanitarian work– Work done forthegood ofhumankind

(b) Ways by whichthespirit of hardworkcan bedeveloped

(i) Beingpunctual- coming to /startingwork on time
(ii) Beingregular – comingto /doingworkas often as is required
(iii) Beingdisciplined -doingwhat has to bedone regardless ofhow onefeels
(iv) Beingcommitted -having astrongloyalty/ devotion forthe work (as though it wereyours /your lifedepended on it)
(v) Beingdiligent -workingtirelesslyand consistently
(vi) Persevering – continuing/ persisting,even in the faceof difficulties
(vii) Stayingfocused- always havingin mind theultimate objective/ goal /aim. (viii)Beingpatient -Enduring/ staying calmin caseof unexpected delays

8. (a) A humanright
Thebasic privilegesandfreedoms to whichallhuman beingsare entitled
Or:

Thebasic privilegesandfreedomsofan individual

(b) Ho
(i) wrights ofthe childcan beprotected
The right to life
This right can beprotected by
(A) EDUCATION: Children,parents and thegeneralpublicmustbe educatedon
the rights of thechild to life,
ways of preventingabuseof thechild‟sright to lifeand
avenues through which one can seek help in caseof abuseorattempted abuse
ofthe child‟sright to life.
(B) PREVENTINGABORTION: Abortion ofunbornbabies mustbeprevented by makingandenforcinglaws againstabortion
(C) IMPROVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SYSTEMS. Reproductivehealth systems must be improved to prevent child mortality(children dyingat/after birth)

(ii) The right to education
This right can beprotected by:
(A) PUBLIC EDUCATION :Runningpublic education campaignson
the child‟sright to education
ways of preventingabuseof thechild‟sright to education and
avenues through which one canaddress abuse orattempted abuseofthe
child‟sright to education.
(B) RESPONSIBLE PARENTING: Parents payingtheirchildren‟sschool fees and providingothereducational needs of thechild.
(C) FREE ANDCOMPULSORY BASIC EDUCATION: Thegovernment making basic education free andcompulsory

(D) GOVERNMENTAL/ CIVILSOCIETAL INTERVENTIONS:
Government /civil societyprovidingchildren with items such as school books, bags, uniforms, etc, that areneeded forschool

(iii) The right to equality
This right can beprotected by:
(A) PUBLIC EDUCATION :Runningpublic education campaigns on
the child‟sright to equality
ways of preventingabuseof thechild‟sright to equalityand
avenues through which one canaddress abuse orattempted abuseofthe
child‟sright to equality.
(B) RESPONSIBLE PARENTING: Parents /teachers treatingtheirchildren/ pupils equally,regardless of their sex, intelligence, physical appearance, temperament or anyother uniquepersonal trait.
(C) GOVERNMENTAL/ CIVILSOCIETAL INTERVENTIONS:Thegovernment and civil societyprovidingequal opportunities forallchildren irrespectiveof their race/tribe,gender, location, social class, political opinion, etc.

(iv) Freedomofexpression
This right can beprotected by:
(A) PUBLIC EDUCATION :Runningpublic education campaigns on
the child‟sright to freedom of expression
ways of preventingabuseof thechild‟sright to freedom of expression and
avenues through which one canaddress abuse orattempted abuseofthe
child‟sfreedom of expression
(B) PROPERTRAINING: Parents/teachers training their children on how to properlyexpress their opinions with respect/courtesy
(C) OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPRESSION: Parents /teachers allowingchildren to freelyexpress their views.
(D) GOVERNMENTAL/ CIVILSOCIETAL INTERVENTIONS:Thegovernment
and civil societyproviding good platforms for children to freelyexpress their views without fear / reservation.

(v) Freedomofworship/ religion
This right can beprotected by:
(A) PUBLIC EDUCATION:Runningpublic education campaigns on
the child‟sright to freedom ofworship/religion
ways of preventingabuseof thechild‟sright to freedom ofworship/religion and
avenues through which one canaddress abuse orattempted abuseofthe
child‟sfreedom ofworship/religion
(B) OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPRESSION: Parents/teachersallowing childrento worship /practicereligion in thewaythat theirspirits inspires them to.
(C) GOVERNMENTAL/ CIVILSOCIETAL INTERVENTIONS: Thegovernment and civil societyprovidinglegal protection forchildren to worship freelyinthe waytheyareinspired to.