Read scenario A and answer the questions that follow:
1.1 Discuss 5 challenges that Tommy encountered in accessing quality education that
prevent him from achieving his potential. Provide specific reasons mentioned in the
passage to support your answer.
1 Irregular School Attendance:
Tommy and the other older children in his household take turns staying
home to care for their sick grandfather. This irregular attendance leads to
gaps in his learning, making it difficult for him to keep up with his peers.
2 Late Arrival at School:
Tommy has to fetch water from a river 1 km away every morning before
school, which often makes him late. His late arrival disrupts his learning
routine and causes him to miss important parts of his lessons.
3 Hunger and Malnutrition:
Since no one in Tommy's household earns an income, he is often hungry.
Hunger affects his concentration and energy levels, making it difficult for him
to focus during classes and absorb information.
4 Vision Problems:
Tommy is partially sighted but has never had his eyes tested, so no one
knows about his vision issues. Sitting at the back of the class to avoid the
teacher’s attention exacerbates this problem, as he cannot see the board
clearly and misses out on vital visual information during lessons.
5 Lack of Understanding and Support from the Teacher:
The teacher is unaware of Tommy's home situation and his vision problems.
She shouts at him for being late, absent, not doing homework, and poor
performance. This negative reinforcement causes Tommy to become
nervous, further hindering his academic progress and self-confidence.
2
, 3
1.2 Explain the impact of Tommy's family situation on his academic performance.
How does his responsibility for household tasks and caring for his grandfather
affect his ability to focus on schoolwork?
Responsibility for Household Tasks
Tommy must fetch water every morning, which makes him late for school. This task is
physically demanding and time-consuming, leaving him tired and reducing the time
available for homework and rest.
Caring for His Grandfather
Taking turns to stay home and care for his grandfather leads to irregular attendance,
causing him to miss critical lessons and fall behind academically. The stress and
responsibility of caregiving also distract him from focusing on his studies.
Emotional and Mental Stress
The absence of his father, his mother's blindness, his grandfather's illness, and the
overall poverty and hunger create a high-stress environment. This constant worry and
anxiety affect his ability to concentrate in class and retain information, further
deteriorating his academic performance.
1.3 Highlight three (3) potential solutions or support mechanisms that could
improve Tommy's academic situation. What actions could the school, teacher, or
community take to address Tommy's challenges and create a more conducive
learning environment for him?
1 School Meal Programs
Implementing a school meal program can ensure that Tommy and other children
receive at least one nutritious meal a day. This would help alleviate hunger, improve
concentration, and enhance their overall ability to learn.
3
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Thandolowethu. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R50,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.