JOHOR BARU: Fifty-three students from three primary schools in Johor will have better eyesights, thanks to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which has chipped in money to provide them with free brand new spectacles.
The underprivileged students had faced difficulty in school due to their poor eyesight, which had affected their studies.
An NGO, Yayasan Kebajikan Suria, has come to these students’ aid by working with the three schools - SJK (C) Pandan, SJK(T) Masai and SK Kong Kong Laut, Pasir Gudang - as part of the A Clear Vision' campaign.
Its secretary James Ho said the objective of the ‘A Clear Vision' programme is to give hope to students with vision problems.
"Our foundation is delighted at being able to help this group of needy students,” he said.
Ho said the spectacles were jointly sponsored by Cahaya Optical Centre, Johor Jaya and Yayasan Kebajikan Suria of Johor Baru.
The foundation’s committee member, Kee Jia Jun, said he was delighted to witness the children’s excited faces at being able to see better in class.
One of the school counsellors from SJK (C) Pandan, Alice Too admitted that student with poor vision face difficulty in absorbing classroom lessons and would have problems understanding the lessons written on the blackboard.
"Unfortunately, the students themselves are unaware they have vision problems as they themselves have never undergone eye checks," she said.
Jee Cai Yun, 12, who was among the recipients of the sponsored spectacles, said she did not ask for a pair of glasses from her parents as she knew it would be too costly.
"I had to sit in front of the classroom as it is nearer to the blackboard," she said.
Another student, Chong Jia Hao, 13, said he was elated at receiving the new glasses.
"My studies have improved since I started wearing the new glasses as I can see better now what is being taught in the classroom," he said.