The Social Work Role in the Secondary Schools of Saudi Arabia

396 Pages·2008·14.44 MB·English

The interviews with social workers revealed some factors, which they thought constrain
their role as social workers in the secondary schools. The main factors were burden of
other tasks unrelated to their job, such as clerical work, interference in their work from
head teachers and sometimes from teachers, and lack of trust. Therefore, problems faced
them in performance of their role with teachers, school administrators, education
supervisors, parents, and students. Furthermore, social workers complained that students
do not seek help from them, even if they are in need of it.
IV
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I
ABSTRACT III
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES Nil
LIST OF FIGURES XIII
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XIV
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION
2
INTRODUCTION
3
1.1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
7
1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
8
1.3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
1.4. PARAMETERS OF THE STUDY 10
1.5. OUTLINE OF THE THESIS 10
CHAPTER TWO : EDUCATION (SCHOOLS) AND SOCIAL WORK WORLD-
WIDE
14
INTRODUCTION
16
2.1. DEFINITION AND OBJECTIVES OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK.
2.2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WORK IN SCHOOL IN THE WEST 17
37
2.3. SolooL SOCIAL WORK IN SOME ARAB COUNTRIES
CONCLUSION 43
V
CHAPTER THREE : SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND PRACTICE IN
SAUDI ARABIA
INTRODUCTION 45
3.1. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SAUDI ARABIA 46
3.1.1. A BRIEF HISTORY 46
3.1.2. LOCATION, AREA AND POPULATION 46
3.2. EDUcATION IN SAUDI ARABIA 49
3.2.1. FEATURES OF SAUDI ARABIAN EDUCATION 51
3.2.2. SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEM 53
3.2.3. HIGHER EDUCATION 55
3.3. SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION 57
3.3.1. KING SAUD UNIVERSITY (KSU) 58
3.3.2. Umm AL-QuRA UNIVERSITY (UATJ) 61
3.3.3. COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK FOR GIRLS' EDUCATION (CSWGE) 63
3.3.4. IMAM MOHAMMED BIN SAUD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY (IMSIU) 67
3.3.5. CASE FOR CRITIQUE: THE COURSE IN IMSIU 69
3.3.6. DiscussION 72
3.4. SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN K.S.A 78
3.4.1 SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 80
3.4.2. PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK 84
3.4.3. SOCIAL WORK IN MEDICAL CARE 87
3.4.4. SOCIAL WORK WITH SPECIAL CATEGORIES 87
3.4.5. SOCIAL WORK WITH JUVENILE CARE FIELD 89
3.4.6. DISCUSSION 90
CONCLUSION 95
VI
CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIAL WORK IN SAUDI ARABIAN SCHOOLS
INTRODUCTION 98
4.1. SOCIAL WORK IN SAUDI ARABIAN SCHOOLS 99
4.1.1. SOCIAL WORKERS' TASK IN SAUDI ARABIAN SCHOOLS 102
4.1.2. SOCIAL WORK AND COUNSELLING 106
4.1.3. DEFINITION OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING IN K.S.A 110
4.1.4. GOALS OF GUIDANCEA DN COUNUSNE LLING PROGRAMMES IN K.S.A 111
4.1.5. COUNSELLING SERVICES IN THE SAUDI SCHOOLS 113
4.1.6. SOCIAL WORKERS' DIFFICULTIES 121
4.1.7. ROLE CONFLICT 125
4.2. STUDENTS' PROBLEMS AND THEIR NEEDS OF COUNSELLING SERVICES IN SCHOOL 127
4.2.1. SOCIO-CULTURE 127
4.2.2. IMPACT ON STUDENTS 133
CONCLUSION 136
CHAPTER FIVE : REVIEW OF RELATED EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION 139
5.1. WESTERN STUDIES 140
5.2. SAUDI STUDIES 157
5.3. DISCUSSION 166
CONCLUSION 171
VII
CHAPTER SIX :METHODOLOGY: RESEARCH DESIGN AND PILOT
STUDY
173
INTRODUCTION
6.1. GAINING ACCESS 173
174
6.2. AIMS OF Tla STUDY
175
6.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
6.4. RESEARCH DESIGN 176
6.5. TARGET POPULATION AND SAMPLE SELECTION 180
6.5.1. SAMPLING FRAMES 181
6.5.2. THE SAMPLE 182
6.6. DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS 185
6.6.1. THE QUESTIONNAIRE 185
6.6.1.1 Construction of the Questionnaire 186
6.6.1.2 Translating the Questionnaire into Arabic 189
6.6.1.3. Validation of the Questionnaire 190
6.6.2. THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE 194
6.6.2.1. Construction of the Interview Schedule 196
6.6.2.2. Translation of Interview Schedule Question into Arabic 197
6.6.2.3. Interview Schedule Validity 197
6.7. PILOT STUDY 198
6.7.1. PILOTING THE QUESTIONNAIRES 200
6.7.1.1. The Sample of the Pilot Work 100
6.7.1.2. Administration of the Questionnaire 101
6.7.1.3. Questionnaire Reliability 102
6.7.1.4. Data Analysis 107
6.Z 1.5. Modifications to the Instruments based on Pilot Work 111
6.7.2. PILOTING THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE 213
6.7.2.1. Pilot Study Sample 213
6.7.2.2 Procedures 213
6.7.2.3. The Reliability of the Interview Schedule 213
6.7.2.4. Content Analysis of Interview Schedule 214
6.7.2.5. Modifications based on Pilot Outcomes 216
6.8. MAIN STUDY 217
6.7.1. RESPONSE RATE 317
6.7.2. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS 218
SUMMARY 219
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CHAPTER SEVEN : DATA ANALYSIS (PRESENTATION OF THE DATA)
INTRODUCTION 221
7.1. THE SOCIAL WORKERS' QUESTIONNAIRE 222
7.1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION 222
7.1.2. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES 231
7.2. STUDENTS' RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE 234
7.3. THE OFFICIALS' QUESTIONNAIRE 236
7.3.1. GENERAL INFORMATION 236
7.3.2. RESPONSES TO THE OFFICIALS' QUESTIONNAIRE 243
7.4. T-TEST RESULTS 245
7.5. RESPONSES TO THE OPEN QUESTION 251
7.6. THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE 254
CONCLUSION 259
CHAPTER EIGHT : INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA AND DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION 261
8.1. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ANALYSIS 261
8.2. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES 268
8.2.1. T-TEST RESULTS 275
8.2.2. COMMENT 279
8.3. THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE 281
8.3.1. FACTORS CONSTRAINING THE SOCIAL WORKER'S ROLE 281
8.3.2. SOCIAL WORKERS' DIFFICULTIES 286
8.3.3. RESPONDENTS' SUGGESTIONS 297
SUMMARY 305
IX
CHAPTER NINE : CONCLUSION, LIMITATIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
INTRODUCTION 308
9.1. SUMMARY 309
9.2. LIMITATIONS 315
9.3. RECOMMENDATIONS 317
9.3.1. RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
AUTHORITY (NATIONAL LEVEL) 317
9.3.2. RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL 320
9.3.3. RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE SCHOOL LEVEL 322
9.4. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 325
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
X
List of Tables
Table 3.1 Elementary Education 49
Table 3.2 Intermediate Education 50
Table 3.3 Secondary Education 50
Table 3.4 Private Education 50
Table 3.5 Higher Education 56
Table 3.6 Courses Classification 71
Table 6.1 Differences between Ordinary Conversation and Survey Interview 195
Table 6.2 Pilot Work Samples 201
Table 6.3 Reliability Coefficients 203
Table 6.4 Reliability Coefficients 204
Table 6.5 Reliability Coefficients 205
Table 6.6 Reliability Coefficients 206
Table 6.7 Marital Status of the Pilot Sample 207
Table 6.8 Age Distribution of the Pilot Sample 208
Table 6.9 Years of Experience of the Pilot Sample 208
Table 6.10 Major Study in College or University for Pilot Samples 209
Table 6.11 Qualification of the Pilot Samples 209
Table 6.12 Years of Experience of the Current Job of the Pilot Sample 210
Table 6.13 Working before the Guidance and Counselling Services 210
Table 6.14 Size of the Schools 211
Table 6.15 Questionnaire Respondents 218
Table 7.1 Age Distribution of the Social Workers 222
Table 7.2 Marital Status of Social Workers 223
Table 7.3 Major Study of the Social Workers in University 224
Table 7.4 Social Workers' Qualification 226
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Table 7.5 Years of Experience of the Social Workers 226
Table 7.6 Duration of the Programme 227
Table 7.7 Place of Training 228
Table 7.8 Years of Experience in the Current Job 229
Table 7.9 Size of the Schools 230
Table 7:10 Means and Standard Deviation for Social Workers' Responses to
Questionnaire Items 233
Table 7.11 Students' View of the Social Workers' Actual and Ideal Roles 235
Table 7.12 Age of Officials 237
Table 7.13 Marital Status of Officials 238
Table 7.14 Qualification of the Officials 238
Table 7.15 Major in College 239
Table 7.16 Years of Experience 240
Table 7.17 The Period of the Programme 241
Table 7. 18 Years of Experience of the Current Employment 242
Table 7.19 Officials' View of the Social Workers' Actual and Ideal Roles 244
Table 7.20 Two Tailed Paired T-tests for Actual Versus Ideal Functions
in the View of the Social Worker 246
Table 7.21 Two Tailed Paired T-tests for Actual Versus Ideal
Functions in the View of the Students 248
Table 7.22 Two Tailed Paired T-tests for Actual Versus Ideal
Functions in the View of the Officials 250
Table 7.23 Factors which Constrain the Social Worker's Role 254
Table 7.24 Difficulties Facing Social Workers 255
Table 7.25 Suggestions for Improving Relationships with the Various Groups 257
List of Figures
Fig. 3.1 Map of Borders of Saudi Arabia 48
Fig. 4.1 Communication Network between Parents, Students, and School 116
Fig 7.1 Age Distribution of Social Workers 223
Fig 7.2 Marital Status of Social Workers 223
Fig 7.3 Major Study of Social Workers 224
Fig 7.4 Social Workers' Qualifications 226
Fig 7.5 Years of Experience of the Social Workers 227
Fig 7.6 Duration of the Programme 228
Fig 7.7 Place of Training 229
Fig 7.8 Years of Experience in the Current Job 230
Fig 7.9 Size of the Schools 231
Fig 7.12 Age of Officials 237
Fig 7.13 Marital Status of Officials 238
Fig 7.14 Qualifications of the Officials 239
Fig 7.15 Major in College 240
Fig 7.16 Years of Experience 241
Fig 7.17 Period of the Programme 242
Fig 7.18 Years of Experience of the Current Employment 243
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