The school stores all the information of the learners in a database with multiple tables - NSC Information Technology - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 2

A requirement of a primary key is that it cannot have a null value. This means that every record must have a value in the primary key field.

The design error in this table arises from the Teacher field. If the teacher is replaced or changes, the data must be corrected everywhere in the table, which can lead to inconsistencies.

To resolve this design error, we can create a separate table for teachers and link it to the tblLearners table using a foreign key. This separation will ensure that changes made to teacher information are only reflected in one place, reducing redundancy and potential anomalies.

Validation ensures that the data is acceptable and follows specific criteria (like format or presence), whereas verification is the process of checking the correctness of the data against a source. Validation does not remove the need for verification because valid data can still be incorrect.

The programming language mostly used to extract data from a database is SQL (Structured Query Language).

A typical scenario for a server-based database is in a school environment where multiple users (teachers, administrators, etc.) need access to the same database simultaneously from different locations. A server-based database would allow concurrent access, ensuring that changes made by one user are instantly visible to others, thus enhancing collaboration.

An audit trail enhances data security by tracking WHAT changes were made, WHEN those changes occurred, and WHO made those changes. This log helps in monitoring and identifying any unauthorized access or alterations to the data.

An alternative method to enhance security is through access control measures such as setting permissions and access levels for users. This can include using passwords, biometric authentication, and restricting certain user actions based on their roles, ensuring that only authorized personnel can make significant changes to the database.