Issues around the screening process for students with SENs in inclusive schools in Lop Buri Province, Thailand

Abstract

ABSTRACT A systematic screening process aims to prevent students from school failure and other salient concerns related to students’ complications with health and psychological risks. The situation of the screening process for at-risk primary school students in Lop Buri province, Thailand is in question. This study thus aims to investigate (1) the current situation of assessment for at-risk students in hospitals; (2) the existing screening process situation in primary school environments; (3) how parents of students with SENs support screening processes. This qualitative study acquired data from interviewing seven medical screeners, eleven classroom teachers and nine parents of SEN students. From the data analysis, seven different themes emerged among insightful data from the three groups of participants: screening process from school to hospital; shortage of screening tools’ training; inadequate medical personnel; complications of psychiatric disorders; local school practices differ with national educational policies; no for identification card and live unhealthy lives being within a low-SES bracket.