Health Screening for Preschoolers

The fourth trial phase of a health screening scheme for preschool students has started across Iran.

It seeks to evaluate conditions such as learning disorders and visual or hearing impairment in at least half of the students enrolled in the Sanaad system (electronic student enrollment) at pre-school level.

“The plan is aimed at addressing health issues that hinder children’s growth and development,” said Rokhsareh Fazli, director general of the preschool education office at the Education Ministry, ISNA reported.

Last year, around 200,000 children underwent tests and some were given diagnosis cards and intervention programs to be performed in preschool, at home by families or at special centers.

Health screening is done on first-year primary school students and health officials are trying to recommend mandatory screening earlier, at the preschool level.

The goal is to diagnose children’s physical and psychological conditions a year before they join primary school, as it gives health experts and families more time to intervene, making it possible for affected students to study alongside their peers at school.

“By addressing conditions before children start school, they will be prepared for academic challenges. If we fail to do this early there will be no time to work on building their confidence and social skills,” the official said.

Children who undergo screening at preschool will not have to be tested again at the first-grade. Their information will be stored in a system accessible by schools.

Students enrolled in preschools must be referred by the school to the health evaluation centers.