JEDDAH, 11 May 2005 — Recent research in the field of educational psychology has shown that many students with special needs fail in school, are unable to solve their personal problems and face difficulties in finding appropriate ways of directing their attitudes and behavior.
In response to this, the special education department at Dar Al-Hekma College has developed an assessment tool that considers assessment and counseling interventions as two continuous processes to go hand in hand.
The Battery of Development Assessment (BDA) is a dynamic tool that focuses on the student’s positive traits and abilities, and develops his or her decision-making and problem solving skills. In addition, the BDA emphasizes the student’s social, emotional and mental abilities.
“It targets students who are suffering delays in their schooling because they are either gifted or have learning difficulties and so have different needs,” said Dr. Huda Husseini Bibi, an associate professor of education at the college and the creator of the test. “It is for teachers, counselors and professionals in the field of education, particularly teachers of special education students to train them and to use the BDA which is a kit in Arabic that includes educational tools, games and a teacher’s manual,” said Husseini Bibi.
She said research showed that 20 percent of the students in any class have special needs and that the available tests are not attuned to Saudi culture. Furthermore, more than two-thirds of the assessment tools used for the purpose of screening, identification and diagnosis do not possess appropriate psychometric specifications for reliable and valid measurements. These tools cannot be utilized in accordance with the new developmental changes of these children during the process of intervention and can only be used for a short period of time.
“The BDA is a tool that is culturally fair and standardized to the norms and values of this community,” said Husseini Bibi.
