A systematic review: Instruments that measure emotional and social competency as a domain of school readiness of preschool children in South Africa

Abstract

Given the lack of standardised and locally developed school readiness assessment tools in South Africa, as well as the under-emphasis on emotional and social competency in favour of cognitive domains in assessment of school readiness, many South African children enter mainstream schooling with their emotional wellbeing significantly compromised. Therefore, emphasis on children’s emotional and social competency as a domain of school readiness is essential. The study aims to identify and summarise aspects of the instruments that measure emotional and social competency as a domain of school readiness in preschoolers and their psychometric properties. All ethical considerations in terms of the systematic review process were adhered to