Journal of East China Normal University(Educational Sciences) ›› 2020, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 117-125.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2020.03.011

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Targeted Poverty Alleviation through Education: A Study of Myopia Among Rural Students in China and Prevention and Control Policy Recommendations

Zhao Jin1, Wang Huan2, Guan Hongyu1, Shi Yaojiang1, Robin Li2, Scott Rozelle2   

  1. 1. Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China;
    2. Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-6055, USA
  • Published:2020-03-11

Abstract: Providing vision care to students in rural areas may serve the purpose of poverty alleviation by improving education and health. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of myopia studies among rural students in China and offer policy recommendations for the national myopia prevention and control plan under “Targeted poverty alleviation through education”. The results show that in rural China, 25% of primary school students and 50% of lower secondary school students are myopic. Moreover, more than 70% of rural myopic students suffer from uncorrected vision, which negatively affects student academic performance and mental health. Correcting myopia also has a significant positive impact on student academic achievement. Studies show that vision screening is an effective way to identify myopia among rural students. Providing subsidies for the families of myopic students to obtain eyeglasses, and providing incentives to teachers, can significantly improve the uptake and usage rates of eyeglasses. A county hospital-based vision center may be an effective platform for reducing children's visual impairment in rural China.

Key words: targeted poverty alleviation through education, rural students, myopia, review analysis