Testing for Intelligence

A holistic approach to child development seeks to simultaneously address the physical, emotional, relational, intellectual and spiritual aspects of a child's life. The importance of the Holistic Approach is that its children learn different things at different stages, e.g. walking talking, fine motor skills etc. Holistic learning is especially effective for young children because it encompasses the whole child and a broad range of learning goals. Besides, it focused on more than cognitive development, holistic learning incorporates mind, body, spirit, behaviour and social interaction. I believe the Multiple Intelligences play a very vital role in the holistic development of children.

'Learning' and 'education' are embedded in care and development (Myers, 2001). When we take about Early Childhood Education, the outcomes are high school enrollment, schools retentions, intellectual and academic achievements, low delinquency rates, better job opportunities. The fact is that these can only be achieved by a holistic approach, taking into consideration health, nutrition, psychosocial stimulation and care. Holistic child development is imperative for mental, physical, social & emotional development. Although ECE recognizes as well that child development should be holistic in cultural context, ECE programs are more likely to be associated with education (Myers, 2001)

"Standardised Intelligence Test has been severely criticized for there biases against minority students (Cucarro 1996; Midgette 1995; Woolfolk 1998). It is also argued that intelligence testing is not fair to individuals living outside the culture for which a particular intelligence test has been normed (cf,. Callahan and McIntyre 1994). People from different nations, as well as those from subcultures within a country, place unique values on such factors as verbal fluency, speed in solving problems, or the ability to be precise even at the expense of being quick, that can influence scores from many intelligence tests" (Matalon, n.d.).

What does intelligence testing tell us?

IQ, short for intelligence quotient, is a measure of a person's reasoning ability...IQ tests begin to assess this by measuring short- and long-term memory. They also measure how well people can solve puzzles and recall information they've heard and how quickly. The playing of Chess and participating in Spelling Bee competitions are linked to IQ.

In my country Jamaica 

The Student Assessment Unit has as its responsibility for the implementation of a system for the objective and accurate assessment of students at the Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary levels. Primary Level Education is offered in Grade 1-6. At the end of Grade 6, students in Primary level schools may sit the Grade Six Achievement Examination (GSAT) to gain admission to high schools. The GSAT replaced the Common Entrance Examination in 1999. it is the assessment instrument that is used by the Ministry of Education to place students in Grade Seven of High Schools. The test is administered annually during March. Other components of this National Assessment Programme are the Grade One Individual Learning Profile, the Grade Three Diagnostic Test and the Grade Four Literacy Test.

In Singapore

Primary education, normally starting at age seven, is a four-year foundation stage (Primary 1 to 4) and a two-year orientation stage (Primary 5 to 6). Primary education is compulsory under the Compulsory Education Act since 2003. Exemptions are made for pupils who are homeschooling, attending a full-time religious institution or those with special needs who are unable to attend mainstream schools. However, parents have to meet the requirements set out by the Ministry of Education before these exemptions are granted. Students have to take a test at Primary 4 to determine whether they could remain homeschooled.

After six years of Primary education, students will have to sit for the national Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Students will then choose the secondary school of their choice based on their results at this examination; they will then be assigned to a secondary school based on merit and their choice. Students are also admitted into a secondary school under a separate "Direct School Admission" scheme, whereby secondary schools can choose a certain number of students based on their special talents before these students take the PSLE. Students admitted under this special scheme cannot select their schools based on their PSLE results.

Reference

Matalon B. (n.d.) Are Culture-Fair Tests Really Fair to Jamaican Students?https://www.mona.uwi.edu/cop/sites/default/files/resource/files/ioe_annual_vol_2.pdf

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+are+students+assessed+for+ intelligence +in+jamaica&rlz=1C1JZAP_enJM905JM905&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.35i39i362l8...8.2780477j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/47255868.pdf

https://moey.gov.jm/node/62

https://moey.gov.jm/about

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Primary_education