1.5 Solving a problem

Life orientation

Grade 9

Thinking skills

Module 6

Solving a problem

What a shocking waste!

(Excerpt taken from " The School Times" a newspaper who specialises in news about schools)

I visited a well-known school in a relatively upmarket community to deliver a parcel of books. From the outside the school made quite an impression, it had large columns, big windows and impressive doors. The first problem was that the windows did not reflect shiny, happy faces. It reflected stains and pieces of gum and I could see empty cans standing inside the classes on the window sills. Inside the trend continued. The steps were littered with pieces of papers, empty cool drink tins, torn wrappers and sachets. It was dusty too and some marks looked well-entrenched on the stairs and even on the walls. Inside the class that I was looking for, some chairs were lying on their sides, tables were scattered, pieces of paper decorated the dusty floor. The desks were festooned with witty and obscene graffiti. I wondered if this place reflected the state of mind of the inhabitants of this institution?

(The rest of the letter was cut - Ed.)

Your turn!

Follow the steps to see if you can come up with some workable solutions.

1. What is the real problem?

2. What possibilities and solutions are there?

3. Which ideas may work? (What criteria will we use?)

4. The plan of action:

Here you should answer the questions:

• Who is going to do it?
• When is it going to be done?
• How are we going to get the money?
• How will we know it was a success?

5. How are we going to convince others?

(It is important to get the co-operation and help of others.)

Afterwards...

Share the ideas of the different groups. Are there any ideas which you can apply to your specific school?

[LO 3.6]

Assessment