Children with special educational needs: report from Al-Dakahliya region [Oman]

ABSTRACT

The cognitive functioning of 3024 randomly chosen Omani school children aged 6-14 years, who were enrolled in primary and intermediate schools in AI Dakhliya region in the academic school year 1995/96, were assessed using the standardized "Columbia Mental Maturity Scale".The aim was to study the magnitude of the problem of children who need special educational facilities.By applying the scale to the pupils, girls, generally, got higher IQ scores [112.75 +/- 20.69] compared to boys [110.46 +/- 21.50]. For the whole sample, the mean was 111.62 +/- 21.13.Intellectually subnormal children [IQ < 70] 'constituted 1.72% of the sample, while 17.39% showed superior intelligence [IQ scores> 130]. Stunting was more prevalent among intellectually subnormal pupils [19.23%] than among bright ones [9.7%] Among the intellectually subnormal pupils, 78.85% did not pass the mid-year school examination.The study revealed a significant correlation between IQ scores and scholastic achievement of the pupils in all ages and sex groups[r=0.55, P < 0.001]. Intelligence was not the only attribute, other factors were also blamed.Intelligence was not the only attribute in scholastic achievements, other factors also contribute. Recommendations are suggested for appropriate interventions: