المملكة: Exceptional facilities for students of behavioral disorders and autism in the tests

The Ministry of Education approved amendments to the student evaluation regulation, aimed at providing a flexible and fair test environment for students who face behavioral and emotional disorders, as well as students with autism spectrum disorder.
The Ministry stressed that this step comes within the framework of its firm commitment to enhancing the principle of comprehensive education, ensuring respect for the psychological and cognitive abilities of each student, and achieving the maximum levels of justice in the evaluation operations.
According to what the ministry explained, the updated regulations allow students who suffer from behavioral and emotional disorders with greater flexibility while performing the tests, such as the ability to move or temporarily stop, in a manner commensurate with their individual ability to remain in the seats.

Full care

She pointed out that a special corner will be allocated to these students, which will be away from the potential dispersion, to enable them to perform their tests in an environment characterized by calm and stability.
She stressed the importance of the existence of a special education teacher to accompany the student and provide the necessary support, in addition to distributing the test contents at intermittent and short periods of time, compatible with the student’s ability to pay attention and focus.
With regard to students with autism spectrum disorder, the Ministry stressed the need to align the tools and methods of evaluation to suit their unique communicative, behavioral and social characteristics.
She explained that sensory integration and multi -media methods, such as writing, reading, and using communication panels, will be adopted to facilitate the evaluation process.

Suitable tests

She drew attention to the importance of preparing the test content divided, taking into account the student’s capabilities and individual characteristics, while providing the possibility of being evaluated in a separate educational environment if the need is required, especially in cases where other disorders such as hyperactivity and attention are dispersed.
In its new regulations, the Ministry obligated the teachers of the academic subjects in advance with special education teachers when preparing test questions for students integrated in general education classes “total integration”.
She emphasized that this procedure aims to ensure that the content of the tests with the goals specified in the individual educational plans for each student. The regulation also allowed the presence of a special education teacher while performing the tests to help the student read questions or contribute to controlling his behavior, in a way that ensures the progress of the evaluation process effectively and smoothly.
The Ministry stated that these amendments and clarifications come within its continuous endeavors to raise the efficiency of educational integration in the school environment, and to provide equal opportunities for all students, in a way that guarantees each student his full right to obtain a fair and supportive assessment of his educational career and his comprehensive development.