ABOUT

Massrat Shaikh – Educational Psychologist | Career Counselor| Mindfulness Educator |Provider for Learning Solutions. 

PhD Scholar – Tata Institute Of Social Sciences.

Member of American Psychological Association.(APA)
Member of International Council of Psychologists. (ICP)
Member of Middle East Psychological Association. (MEPA)

I am an Educational Psychologist and edupreneur with deep expertise in learning disabilities and special education needs (SEN). I have worked at Al Ahlam Training and Higher Education Services in Oman for more than ten years, and I am a consultant to most of the International and Private schools in Oman. I work in collaboration with schools to promote better services for vulnerable learners. I guide the SEN department in schools to provide support for students with learning challenges. I strive to bring inclusion, positive mental health, and achievement to all children. I aim to make all students feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful. 

Educational Psychologist: I am a clinician, and I specialize in diagnostic psychoeducational assessments to identify learning disabilities and other neurological conditions in children and young adults. Psychoeducational assessments show how a child learns and diagnose a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental disability, and identify any other social/emotional/behavioral/psychological problems. The most important result of a psychoeducational assessment is the comprehensive recommendations for home and school. I use different psychological tools such as ability, academic and behavioral assessments.

Provider for Learning Solutions: I have brought to Oman EdTech solutions to teach vulnerable learners. Partnering with Scientific Learning, Pearson, and other companies, I have made neuroscience-based learning solutions accessible to vulnerable students. SEN students suffer from learning gaps that are hard to fill, and time spent in remedial learning is crucial. As an educator, I find ways of making a difference in shorter sprints. Ed-tech allows me to achieve learning gains faster than any conventional method. Since digital learning solutions have the potential to give layers of support that can accelerate learning, I have made this service accessible for SEN students to help them meet their individual learning goals.

Career Guidance Counselor: I use psychometric assessments to measure students’ interests, aptitude, and personalities to guide them to the best suitable career path. I offer a comprehensive career guidance program designed to assist individuals in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices. A career assessment enhances the linkage of academic and career options and thus, improves career preparation and management.

Mindfulness Educator: I offer an 8-week mindfulness course for students, educators, and parents. Students’ capacity to learn is directly impacted by whether they feel emotionally supported in the classroom. Today, with so many young people experiencing stress, trauma, and isolation, teaching students mindfulness is a resource and an essential part of teaching social-emotional skills. It is an integral part of teaching wellbeing to children that adults in the lives of young children learn self-regulation too. I always start teaching mindfulness to adults first and then children to make it holistic and successful.

Advocate for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): To bring transformation to our education system, I have taken a role in advocating for SEL in our schools. I see that SEL has the potential to transform our learning environment as well as provide us with tools for systematic change. Following the CASEL framework, I am trying to make SEL an integral part of education in Oman. SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships. I see the importance of SEL in our education system as it can empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

Author: I am a columnist for Oman Observer Newspapers, where I share my regular articles. I am also an author for GESS Education. I have also contributed several articles for other newspapers and magazines in Oman.

Speaker: I am a speaker for GESS Leaders in Education and GESS Dubai 2021 Conference & Exhibition. I am also a speaker for EduTraC Oman – Higher Education, Training & Career Expo, Future Skills & HRD Summit 2021, and GHEDEX – Oman’s Higher Education, Training and Future Skills Show.

Awards – I am one of the finalists for the GESS Awards 2021 for the Inclusion and Wellbeing category.

Psychological First Aid (COVID 19): To support the community during COVID 19, I have taken the role of teaching people positive coping. I completed my training from Public Health England to offer psychosocial care for my community members following the guidance of the International Federation of Red Cross on the delivery of psychological first aid.

My objective has been to strive and better myself every passing year, learn from experiences and widen my horizon. As an educator, I see that constant learning is an essential part of my life, and I will continue this journey as far as I am in this role.