TESTING  FOR INTELLIGENCE

We start to assess a child right from conception, understanding and monitoring each developmental aspect of the fetus till birth, after the child is born, we assess the child as whole through the developmental milestones. The apgar scale is used to measure color, heart rate, muscle tone respiration and reflex respositivity.all these assessment is to know for certain that the child developed properly and his fit for the outside world. This assessment is achieve only if measured holistically, considering every development instance of a child in order to understand why and what makes an individual child unique on its own.

 As the child grows older, we begin to observe each developmental milestone; from the physical cognitive social and emotional development. This helps us know how the child is development and if there is need for intervention if a child fails to achieve those milestones.

When the child now gets to school age, there is still need to assess the child based on his developmental ability in relation to learning, coping with task as well as interactions which are all necessary to ensure a successful schooling. Quantitative assessments, such as IQ and achievement tests, provided raw scores and percentiles to help schools understand how your child compared with others his or her age.  IQ and achievement tests can miss important information. factors  such as, health, emotions, culture, socio-economic status, religion and how it affects a child’s performance might not be considered when trying to assess or measure a child ‘s holistically.
I believe a child should be assess or measured from a developmental point of view, this would help ascertain whether the child is manifesting the requirement of his age, it would also enable us know what could cause a child not too. A child not being able to perform well like his peer might be as a result of certain events or incidence that affected his brain development before birth, identifying its symptoms would enable one offer the right assistance he needs rather than just concluding that he cannot cope with learning. Factors like motor skill, emotional regulation, social interaction, physical play all come together to in helping a child perform well in school. If a child not being able to perform well like his peer might be as a result of certain events or incidence that affected his brain development before birth, identifying its symptoms would enable one offer the right assistance he needs rather than just concluding that he cannot cope with learning. Factors like motor skill, emotional regulation, social interaction, physical play all come together to in helping a child perform well in school.                                                                                                                                                                                  

Development assessment is therefore ideal for measuring a child holistically .Developmental assessment can therefore be achieved with parental insight, teacher observations, school and other appropriate records.

Saudi Arabia spends immense resources on the education sector. The Saudi Arabia government finance general education for both boys and girls. It also provides free post-secondary education and offers financial help to students. At cases, meals, books, and transportation are subsidized.

In Saudi Arabia, children aged 3–5 years go to kindergarten. However, attendance of kindergartens is not a prerequisite for enrollment of first grade of primary education and kindergartens are not part of the official education ladder.

Primary education in Saudi Arabia lasts six years, and children at the age of 6 enter the first grade of primary education.The school age of children is age six into grade one for government owned schools. Assessment to indicate student is ready for grade one requires that the student must be of the age appropriate to the class. That is 6years and passes an entrance exam which is a standardized test. The child must also reasonably be able to speak English and Arabic.

The private and international schools start with children from 3years for pre-school. No formal testing for pupils seeking to enter the Foundation Stage or Key Stage One (children aged 3-6 years..The school always places children in age-appropriate year groups unless there are mitigating circumstances

Children seeking placement from Year 3 and above are required to go through an admissions testing process. The school uses age-appropriate standardized testing in English and mathematics to determine whether applicants meet the school’s admissions criteria. Informal tests for the youngest pupils,  for those in year three upwards, by more formal literacy and numeracy assessments. The school has a special needs department but can only cater for mild conditions.

I believe that standardized assessment test should not be the only criteria for judging learners ability but should be accompanied by more observation of other developmental instances that affects a child’s ability to cope in school and the society

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.,)New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

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