The Ministry of Education plans to introduce more services and programs for students with learning difficulties at intermediate and secondary levels at schools.
It plans to draw up tests to gauge the development needs of students, publish reference guides for learning difficulties, and a list of programs for students. It is also developing and preparing tests to diagnose students for Arabic and mathematics classes.
More than 16,200 students have benefited from 1,471 programs run by the ministry since 1996. These students had hearing, thinking, speech, reading and writing disorders.
A total of 1,529 teachers are employed under the programs, which include special education teachers, student social workers and guardians. Class teachers and parents are offered guidance to help students at school and at home.
According to a survey by the Saudi Press Agency, educators have welcomed the programs. Abdulaziz Al-Zaid, a primary school teacher, said the programs have reduced the number of students lagging behind in their studies.
Ahmad Majrashi, a resource room teacher, said primary school teachers have helped make the programs successful. He said the programs ensure children are not embarrassed when they are called from their classes. They attend these extra classes in resource rooms, which have been labeled “reward rooms.” Majrashi called on the media to highlight these programs to help parents see the benefits for their children. Many parents have been positive and moved their children to schools offering these classes, he said.
The Kingdom’s suggestion of launching a Gulf day to highlight the issue of learning difficulties at schools was approved by the Gulf Cooperation Council’s education ministries in Bahrain in 2011.
More aid set for students with learning difficulties
