On January 21, 2025, the Equitable Education Fund’s Equity Lab, in partnership with the Rangsit University Faculty of Optometry, the National Health Security Office, Region 5, the Suphan Buri Provincial Public Health Office, Yommarat Hospital, the Suphan Buri Primary Educational Service Area Office, Region 2, the Suphan Buri Secondary Educational Service Area Office, the Song Phi Nong Subdistrict Administrative Organization, and the Suphan Buri Provincial Administrative Organization, conducted a student vision screening activity at Bang Li Witthaya School in Suphan Buri Province as part of the mobile optometry project. Over 233 elementary and lower secondary pupils from 20 schools in Song Phi Nong District and the surrounding areas were screened.
This activity introduces novel vision screening prototypes from the I SEE THE FUTURE pilot project. Equity Lab worked with network partners, the National Health Security Office, and the Optometry Association of Thailand. A system was established to encourage local efforts to ensure that all children can access their rights. This system includes a prompt referral system for children with vision issues and vision screening services that result in high-quality spectacles.
This operation also brought in the Information System for Learning Opportunity Guarantee, also known as OBEC Care, which is a system that keeps track of student information and screens for hazards in all areas, including the physical health aspect that is connected to visual issues. Data will be processed and evaluated to give pupils individualized care and sent to the appropriate organizations.
This project demonstrates how the issue of educational inequality may originate from something that is close to children, namely vision, according to Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Manager of the Equitable Education Fund, Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
“The vision test paper is a snapshot of each child’s future. They will have a clearer future if they can see the letters and numbers on this paper clearly, either with their own eyes or with the glasses they will get in the coming days. They’ll be able to see their potential progress.”
Additionally, according to data, almost 70,000 youngsters in Suphan Buri Province are enrolled in compulsory school, Dr. Kraiyos stated. The target populations that the Equitable Education Fund works with include approximately 8,000 children from low-income homes and approximately 8,000 children who are not enrolled in school. The province of Suphan Buri is one of the 29 educational regions. By identifying children who are in danger of getting assistance or correction earlier than dropping out of school, the OBEC Care system, which has been deployed in 162 schools and covers the care of over 50,000 children, increases access to care in numerous ways.
This project is beneficial for pupils, according to Mr. Wachira Kwanphet, Director of the Secondary Education Area of Suphan Buri Province. This time, the students who took part in the vision exam were those who had already undergone screening through the OBEC Care system, a crucial tool for assessing and tracking local students’ eye health to ensure that every child receives timely and appropriate care.
“This idea is excellent and will benefit the students. Every school provided information to the OBEC Care system, where some pupils who arrived today were screened. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is coming to assist in caring for the children of our students in Suphan Buri Province.
Mr. Phiraphol Sinsap, a teacher at Bangli Wittaya School in Suphan Buri Province, discussed how instructors can identify pupils with visual issues and send them for prompt care and support by studying their behaviors. By enabling teachers to view both individual and overall risk information and to communicate with parents before sending information to the appropriate authorities for focused support, the OBEC Care system helps improve the effectiveness of student screening, particularly for kids who are at risk.
A problem or change in visual value may be present in some youngsters, even if they claim that their eyesight is regular and are evaluated. However, they might not consider this an issue because they are accustomed to it. Their names are on the list, nevertheless, and they have the right to be screened when given the chance, which enables them to comprehend the issue and obtain superior remedies. Thus, I believe that teachers will get better answers if they assist and report this issue to the system so that it can screen kids.
According to Ms. Marisa Omsin, a parent of a kid who took part in the experiment, parents can play a significant role in helping to address their children’s vision issues by monitoring their behavior and maintaining their visual health. In her daughter’s case, for instance, the family only used one eye to observe her. Her vision improved when the family took her for a check-up and treatment. Then, in September of last year, they observed that she was unable to see the board when studying, was unable to take notes as quickly as her peers, and was generally slower than her pals. As a result, this assignment was recommended to her.
The fact that I had a checkup is beneficial since without it, we wouldn’t know if my daughter could see. She stated that she would run the risk of losing her vision entirely if she did not wear or obtain spectacles when the doctor examined her.
A representative of the University of Chicago, which has conducted vision screening research in numerous nations worldwide, also participated in the field study to determine whether collaborating with the Equitable Education Fund to develop a screening technique and address vision issues suitable for Thai children is feasible.
