position paper 4

prepared by :
shuhaida mohamad azan (0816494)

POSITION PAPER 4
There are so many ways that can be used to do assessment towards our students. Most of the assessment that we learn today are made based on American culture. we are exposed towards so many assessment instrument which done by American, which is totally from their culture.
Should we use their instrument to be included in our assessment? In my point of view, there is nothing wrong for the Muslim counselor to use the assessment; however, it must be adjusted to fix with our culture. I’m not saying that Muslim counselor is weak, but, because of American culture has prestige position in the counseling and discovered so many thing for a long time ago, so, their assessment are most used currently.
For me myself, it is okay to use their instrument as assessment towards our student, but, if there is clash between their culture and our culture, we should put that instrument into consideration. There are some norms which accepted within their culture but not ours. For example a girl can stay with her boyfriend even she just reaches to the age 18. it’s totally different with our culture, which are not allow the daughter living together as long as they are not get married yet. I think in any country there have own perception and norms.
So, it is important for the counselor has openness and does not to jump into the conclusion before know better. When we have client who has different culture from our own, the client might think that we are not understand them well and it’s being our responsibility to change their mind setting so that they will belief on us and disclose themselves to be helped.
Of course, to be better counselor, we should discover different cultures in many countries. Perhaps, we have different point of view towards something while it is not as we think about. To have better understanding in counseling, we should learn their theory as the basic knowledge before us going deeper. it is really important for us for being non-judgmental before we know better about oneself.
However, I absolutely disagree if anyone says that Muslim counselor cannot use the assessment instrument at all. For me, as long as the instrument doesn’t clash with our culture, it still can be used. For an example, by using Holland typology, we know that people are divided into 6 categories which are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Through this personality type, we know better which categories which he is belong to. So, it would be easier for us as a counselor to guide them to choose and plan for their future career.
For me, as long as the instrument can help us in the counseling, it is okay to apply in our counseling session with the client. It is okay for us to follow it, but it must equivalent to Islamic perspective. Regarding any matter, we must return and refer it back to the Quran and Sunah. Do not ever put aside the hukum just because following the ethics in counseling which were made and setup by the American.
As the future Muslim counselor, we must educated ourselves to be better person so that our mind setting will not easily influenced by the American assessment instrument.