Lagos Mulls Compulsory Eyes Test For Secondary School Students

Concerned by the rising level of children and youths with eye-related problems, Lagos Ministry of Education has hinted on plans to carry out compulsory eyes tests for all students in public secondary schools across the state.

Our correspondent gathered that although the eyes test is yet to get the permission of the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the test is going to be carried out for all returning students as they resume the next section.

A Director, Basic Education Services [BES] Lagos Ministry of Education, Mr Adeyemi Adebayo, who disclosed this to our correspondent said the  Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration has been making frantic efforts to uplift education and health, especially with special focus on people with disability.

Adebayo in the just concluded two days Roundtable Meeting with Lagos State Social Protection Technical Working Group and the Media Citizen-led Accountability in Lagos State Social Protection Programme organised by Social-Economic Rights & Accountability Project [SERAP] said most students are found to have vision Impairment, saying early detection will help to correct such problems.

“The priority of the Sanwo-Olu administration is on health and education. In the past, most students were found to be having eyes-related problems. The free test, which will start with all students who are resuming from holiday, will be compulsory for all students in public secondary schools across the state. The cost will be borne by the state government and could be extended to pupils in public primary schools as time goes on.

“However, this is yet to get the approval of the state governor. The action is to get practical and permanent solutions to issues on poor sight by people and will be done in designated centres during their holiday periods. The test will be done during their holidays in order to prevent them from using their school lessons to go for the test,” Adebayo said.