حاجة مدارس المملكة العربية السعودية إلى خدمات علم النفس المدرسي : المدارس الثانوية بمدينة جدة كدارسة حالة

Abstract

While many young people in Arab/Muslim countries are facing different kinds of psychological problems, professional school psychological services are virtually non-existent. This study aimed to identify the needs for school psychology in the schools of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly the high schools in Jeddah. The researcher has used a mixed method approach due to the nature of the study. First, the psychological needs of the students were identified through administering the Ross Mooney Problem Checklist to a random sample of (294) high school students in Jeddah. Secondly, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted at four selected public schools around Jeddah, involving 16 (sixteen) directors, school guidance teachers, teachers and guardians. Quantitative data were analyzed by factor analysis to identify the basic components. The results showed a Chronbach alpha value of (0.872) indicating that the instrument enjoyed a high level of reliability. Regarding students’ problems, It was found that a significant number of respondents reported facing problems in the areas of social and psychological relations; social activities; personal and psychological relations; home and family; health and physical status; Morality and religion; financial and living conditions and professions; the relationship between sexes; educational future and vocational; and compatibility of the school work; curriculum and methods of teaching. Analysis of the interview data showed that there was a broad agreement among the views of the school guidance teachers, school administrators, teachers, directors of schools, as well as the parents of the students. All of them identified weaknesses and deficiencies in the provision of psychological services at school, including the behavioral, academic, social services provided to the students by guidance counselors. Participants also agreed that there is a need for applying school psychology services Saudi high schools. The researcher made recommendations, and provided detailed proposals and rationale for the establishment of school psychology services in the high schools of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.