Pearson Clinical and Talent Assessment, a division of Pearson, has launched the India edition of their flagship screening test for the Indian market, the Dyslexia Screening Test – Junior, (DST-J) for school teachers, special educators and psychologists across schools in India.
The DST-J (India) is a revolutionary psychological screening test to identify children at risk for Dyslexia, which was launched at the World Education Summit 2012, New Delhi. The DST-J (India) is poised to change the way schools identify children with learning disabilities and create an inclusive learning environment for all children. The DST-J (India) was developed from leading scientific research by Pearson Clinical & Talent Assessment that is changing the way children and adults learn in India. This test is unique because it can be administered by general school teachers, unlike most other psychological tests used in the school system that can be used by special educators or psychologists only.
The DST-J (India) was launched by Dr Angela Fawcett following her talk on ‘The DST-J India – An Innovation in Teacher Empowerment’ at the World Education Summit. Dr Angela Fawcett is Vice President, British Dyslexia Association, Emeritus Professor, Swansea University, UK and author, Pearson Clinical & Talent Assessment. Dr Fawcett developed the original Dyslexia Screening Test that is globally used in educational settings.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fawcett stated, “The DST-J is globally recognised as the most successful and effective screening tool for dyslexia and other learning difficulties, which lead to failure and distress for up to 20 percent of children across the world. It empowers teachers to identify academic problems before children fail, and helps them to learn. The DST-J (India) will transform the future of children in India who are struggling to learn, thus allowing them to express their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. I am delighted to bring this test to India.”
Also present during the launch was Dr Nitin Anand who spearheaded the India standardization project for the DST-J (India). Optimistic about the role of the DST-J (India) in the school system in India, Dr Anand stated, “The DST- is a watershed in developing assessments for the Indian school system. The DST-J (India) will ensure children who have so far been disadvantaged in traditional classrooms due to their learning disabilities, will be identified at an early age for this condition. Early identification is essential to offer timely support to such children and positively alter their learning trajectory. The DST-J (India) is an outcome of an extensive scientific study carried out across eleven cities of India and represent’s Pearson’s commitment to provide high-quality assessments for education, psychology and allied fields.”
