Challenges of Assessment of Students with Special Learning Needs

Abstract

The paper presents challenges of assessment of students with special learning needs. Challenges faced by teachers in classroom situations in identifying and assessment of special learning needs in learners include among many other needs, hearing impairment and deafness, visual impairment and blindness, dyslexia, mental retardation, gifted learners. The paper establishes that students who miss assessment are unable to access specific educational programs including modified classroom instruction, curriculum, tests and examinations. Learners with special needs can access these benefits only if they have been diagnostically assessed. The assessment of learners with special learning needs has deeply rooted problems, stemming from unclear policies, development of sustainable teacher training and teacher support mechanisms in dealing with the many forms of learning needs that the students have. There is also need for legal frameworks to be in place to protect the learners with special needs from neglect, social stigma and prejudice if the problems of assessment of these learners are to be effectively dealt with and the learners empowered to reach their individual maximum potentials in life. Key Words: Challenges, assessment, children with special learning needs, special learning needs