TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - Academic achievement and psychosocial profile of Egyptian primary school children in South Sinai JO - Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences A1 - Monir, Zeinab M. A1 - El-Din, Ebtissam M. Salah A1 - El-Alameey, Inas R. A1 - Yamamah, Gamal A. A1 - Megahed, Hala S. A1 - Salem, Samar M. A1 - Ibrahim, Tarek S. SP - 624 EP - 629 VL - 4 IS - 4 N2 - BACKGROUND: Population of South Sinai has suffered from negligence for many years. Solving educational problems of this population is the main concern nowadays.

AIM: To assess academic achievement in primary school children in South Sinai in relation to intelligence and psychosocial profile.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 407 Bedouin and urban students randomly selected from twelve public primary schools in six cities in South Sinai. Intelligence was assessed using Goodenough-Harris test. The midyear Arabic language and Arithmetic scores were used to assess academic achievement. The teachers completed a Pediatric-Symptom Checklist for evaluation of children behaviour.

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in academic achievement (P < 0.001), total psychosocial scores, (P < 0.05), and externalization (P < 0.05) was found between urban and Bedouin students with significant gender differences (P < 0.05). Highly significant positive correlations were observed between IQ percentile and mid-year Arabic language scores and Arithmetic scores (P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations with the total score of PSCL and its subscale scores (externalising, inattention, and internalising behaviour) (P < 0.001) among the students.

CONCLUSION: Comorbid academic and psychosocial dysfunction in primary school children were observed in South Sinai. A national strategy to minimise the educational gap between Bedouin and urban areas should be implemented.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1857-9655 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2016.111 ID - ref1 ER -