The Last Days at Forcados High School: summary for JAMB

About the novel

The Last Days at Forcados High School is a novel by A. H. Mohammed, published in 2013 by Cassava Republic Press. JAMB used it as the Use of English novel for UTME 2015 and 2016, and later as the reading text for Direct Entry candidates.

The book has 20 chapters, numbered only.

The story follows one school year, the final year (SS3), at Forcados High School, a secondary school in Lagos. The main character is Jimi Solade, a brilliant student, prefect and athlete. During this one year he faces his mother's death, his elder brother's drug problem, a new friendship with a troubled new girl, Efua, and a false accusation of theft.

The story is told in the third person and moves between Jimi, Efua and Nene.

The big message: growing up is hard, and young people need love, honest friends and caring parents to get through it.

The story, part 1: A new term

On the first day of the new session, Jimi's troubled elder brother, Wole, comes home. Their father had sent Wole away, and he throws him out again.

At school, Jimi, a prefect and star athlete, meets a new girl in SS3, Efua Coker, who has come from St Catherine's in Abuja. Efua is moody and clashes with teachers, and is put on probation. Her classmates nickname her "The Witch". She becomes friends with Nene.

Wole takes Jimi to a drinking spot. The police raid the place and find drugs on Wole.

A youth corper, Miss Agbenenovi ("Miss Novi"), joins the staff. She becomes Efua's mentor and friend.

The first term ends with the inter-house sports, where Jimi wins the 100 metres race for Tiger House, and a carol night.

The story, part 2: Loss and lies

In the second term, Jimi's mother, Kemi, dies of ovarian cancer.

Jimi and Efua grow close after they are caught together in a street fight between area boys and the police.

After his wife's death, Jimi's father travels abroad for five months. While he is away, Wole throws parties at home and sells drugs, so Jimi goes to stay with his best friend Ansa's family.

Nene, who loves Jimi, becomes jealous of Efua. She finds a letter Efua wrote to Miss Novi, misreads it as a love letter, and tells Jimi. A rude boy, Jolly, photocopies the letter and spreads it round the school. Jolly is flogged as punishment.

Efua is sent home. She stops eating, collapses and is taken to hospital. Nene apologises. Efua then reveals the painful secret behind her behaviour: her stepfather abused her, and her own mother did not believe her.

The story, part 3: The last days

Wole is deep in debt from selling drugs and pressures Jimi for money.

The school's chemistry laboratory is burgled. Jimi had a key to the lab. Wole's gang is caught selling a stolen microscope, and Wole names Jimi. To protect his brother, Jimi falsely confesses. But Efua and Ansa speak up for him, the truth comes out, and the charges against Jimi are dropped.

Efua leaves the country.

At the valedictory (send-forth) service, Jimi wins prizes in Chemistry, Physics and Technical Drawing.

In October the results come out. Jimi wins a scholarship to study Electrical Engineering. Ansa plans to study Architecture, and Nene, Accountancy. A letter arrives from Efua.

Main characters

• Jimi (Akinjimi) Solade: the main character, about 16, in SS3. A prefect, athletics captain and brilliant student. Loyal to his brother, even when it hurts him.
• Wole Solade: Jimi's elder brother. Into drugs and debt; he is behind the lab theft.
• Femi Solade: the eldest brother, who lives in the UK.
• Mr Kola Solade: Jimi's father, a hot-tempered businessman. He travels abroad for five months after his wife dies.
• Mrs Kemi Solade: Jimi's mother, who dies of ovarian cancer.
• Efua Coker: the new girl from St Catherine's, Abuja. Called "The Witch". She was abused by her stepfather. She later leaves the country.
• Mrs Funmi Coker: Efua's mother, who did not believe her.
• Aunt Moni: Efua's aunt, with whom she lives.
• Ansa: Jimi's best friend and neighbour, a shy painter. He paints Efua's portrait and plans to study Architecture.
• Nene Ekpo: Jimi's childhood friend, a singer and a pastor's daughter. She loves Jimi, exposes Efua's letter, then apologises.
• Miss Agbenenovi (Miss Novi): a youth corper and Efua's mentor.
• Jolly Stephens: the rude boy who spreads the letter and is flogged.
• Caro ("Queen Bee"): Jimi's ex-girlfriend.
• Mr Mallum: the principal.
• Mr Bade ("Cane"): a teacher known for flogging.

Themes and lessons

• Friendship, loyalty and betrayal: Jimi and Ansa stand together; Nene betrays Efua, then says sorry.
• Family problems and absent parents: a father who is away and harsh, a mother who dies, a mother who does not listen.
• Drug abuse and peer pressure: Wole's life shows where drugs lead.
• Child abuse: Efua's pain explains her strange behaviour. Listen to children.
• Loss and grief: how Jimi copes with his mother's death.
• Prejudice: calling someone "The Witch" or spreading rumours without knowing their story.
• Hard work pays: Jimi still succeeds despite everything.

Quick facts for JAMB

• Author: A. H. Mohammed.
• Publisher: Cassava Republic Press, 2013.
• Number of chapters: 20.
• Setting: Forcados High School, Lagos; one school year (SS3).
• Main character: Jimi Solade.
• Jimi's parents: Kola and Kemi Solade. His brothers: Wole and Femi.
• Jimi's mother died of ovarian cancer.
• Jimi's father stayed abroad for five months.
• Efua Coker came from St Catherine's, Abuja. Nickname: "The Witch".
• Efua's mentor: Miss Agbenenovi (Miss Novi), a youth corper.
• The boy who spread the letter: Jolly Stephens.
• The principal: Mr Mallum. "Cane": Mr Bade.
• Jimi's house: Tiger House. He won the 100 metres.
• The stolen item: a microscope from the chemistry lab.
• Jimi falsely confessed to the theft.
• Jimi's course: Electrical Engineering (on scholarship). Ansa: Architecture. Nene: Accountancy.