Teachers from various government and aided schools in the district have been undergoing training on how to identify children with poor and low vision.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) had roped in ophthalmic experts to provide basic inputs to teachers during a three-day programme which commenced on Tuesday.
K. Parvathi, Chief Educational Officer, SSA-Madurai district, said already 1,346 children studying in Classes I to VIII in 15 blocks in the district with vision defects were identified through special eye check-up camps.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Low vision training programme gives focus on preventing loss of vision and getting the right intervention at the right time,” she said.
On Wednesday, 100 teachers of government schools attended the orientation sessions conducted in School Education Department office in Tallakulam. Earlier on Tuesday, 77 special teachers, who handled children in need of special care, underwent training in vision care.
According to SSA officials, the low vision training session will have parents as participants on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
M. Veerasamy, national convenor of National Ophthalmic Associate Association, who was a resource person for this training, said several children were facing difficulty in reading and this ultimately affected their performance in studies and examinations.
“With spectacles we can correct the vision only to some extent. While some children have congenital eye defects, many get vision impairment due to injury or other reasons,” he said.
Mr.Veerasamy said the training programme of the SSA was attended by block resource teachers and they, in turn, would take the message to the schools.