1.1 Challenges Tommy Encountered in Accessing Quality Education
a) Poverty and Hunger:
Reason: Tommy's family has no income, resulting in frequent hunger.
Impact: Hunger makes it difficult for Tommy to concentrate in class, affecting
his ability to learn and perform academically.
b) Irregular School Attendance:
Reason: Tommy takes turns with his siblings to care for his sick grandfather,
causing frequent absences.
Impact: Irregular attendance disrupts his learning continuity, making it hard to
keep up with the curriculum.
Reason: Tommy must fetch water from a river 1 km away every morning,
making him late for school.
Impact: This responsibility not only makes him late but also exhausts him before
school starts, reducing his energy and focus.
d) Emotional and Psychological Stress:
Reason: Tommy worries about his grandfather and is saddened by his father's
absence.
Impact: Emotional stress hampers his ability to concentrate in class and affects
his overall well-being, leading to poorer academic performance.
e) Unaddressed Vision Problems:
Reason: Tommy is partially sighted but sits at the back of the class to avoid the
teacher’s attention, worsening his ability to see the board.
Impact: His uncorrected vision issues lead to difficulty in following lessons and
understanding the material, contributing to declining academic performance.
1.2 Impact of Tommy's Family Situation on His Academic Performance
Tommy's family situation places significant burdens on him, impacting his
academic performance in several ways:
a) Caretaking Responsibilities: His role in caring for his sick grandfather forces
him to miss school frequently, leading to gaps in his education and learning.
b) Household Chores: The task of fetching water daily before school causes
physical exhaustion and lateness, limiting his attentiveness and
participation in class.
c) Emotional Stress: Worrying about his grandfather and feeling abandoned
by his father contribute to emotional distress, making it difficult to focus on
schoolwork.
d) Economic Strain: The necessity to work in the neighbor's garden and sell
vegetables after school reduces the time and energy he can dedicate to
homework and study.
1.3 Potential Solutions or Support Mechanisms
a) School and Teacher Support:
Action: The teacher can adopt a more understanding and supportive approach,
taking the time to understand Tommy’s situation and providing extra help or
tutoring to catch up on missed work.
Benefit: This would create a more inclusive and empathetic learning
environment, improving Tommy's academic engagement and performance.
b) Community and Social Services:
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