Access Denied: Assessing the Challenges that Prevent Students with Disability to Participate in PISA

This study aims to assess the challenges of including Saudi students with disabilities in the International Program for Student Assessment (PISA). In addition, it also sheds light on the feasibility of their participation in this test according to the view of official circles in charge of this test, such as the Ministry of Education (MOE), Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) as a supervisory body for international tests in Saudi Arabia. Seven officials participated in this study and were selected on the basis of certain standards to achieve the objectives of this study by conducting semi-structured interviews, then data analysis by participants using content analysis of topics and subtopics. The study concluded that some educational policies in Saudi Arabia are affected by the results of the PISA test, and there are several challenges that impede the inclusion of persons with disabilities in assessing PISA, in addition to the existence of a clear defect in the assessment and diagnosis system of persons with disabilities. However, it is necessary to work on providing accurate data to be invested later on for the benefit of the Saudi students.