Publication:

Effectiveness of competency improvement module on primary school teachers' competency regarding early diagnosis and management of childhood learning disabilities: a pilot study

Background Learning disabilities (LDs) affect a significant proportion of school-age children globally. Primary school teachers are ideally positioned for early identification and management; however, their competency in this domain remains inadequate. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a Competency Improvement Module (CIM) on primary school teachers' competency regarding early diagnosis and management of childhood learning disabilities.

Methods A quasi-experimental, non-randomized control group design was employed. Forty primary school teachers from District Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, India, were allocated to an experimental group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The experimental group received a structured CIM comprising 17 sessions. Competency was assessed using three validated instruments: a Structured Questionnaire, the Questionnaire on Teachers' Competence in Identifying Pupils with Learning Disabilities (QTCIPLD), and Structured Case Vignettes. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 21 days post-intervention (post-test 1), and 42 days post-intervention (post-test 2). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and independent t-tests.

Results The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements across all three competency domains post-intervention (p<0.001), with large effect sizes (Cohen's D: 2.33-4.13). Significant between-group differences were observed at both post-test time points. The demographic variables, such as monthly income and employment type, were significantly associated with competency gains among teachers.

Conclusions The CIM is an effective, feasible intervention for enhancing primary school teachers' competency in early diagnosis and management of childhood learning disabilities. Findings support the large-scale implementation of structured teacher training programs.