ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the key issues in relating to self-esteem and achievement for both ordinary and special needs children. It examines self-esteem issues in relation to, school learning, academic achievement and the integration of special needs children. Academic achievement increasingly becomes a salient part of their self-concepts and a crucial factor in influencing self-esteem levels. Self-esteem is undoubtedly an important aspect of personality and some studies have found that correlating self-esteem scores with those of academic achievement for the same children provided a higher value than that for IQ! Chang examined the association between teacher rating of their pupils' self-concepts and the children's academic achievement, reporting a significant correlation. Some studies have been undertaken to ascertain whether the self-esteem of special needs children is higher, lower or the same as that of ordinary school children.
