They have until the end of the week to upgrade their children’s glasses. After that, changes to growing eyes or declining sight will have to be addressed from their own pocket.

Since the VisionCare program was only available to individuals with a Centrelink income statement attesting to their inability to pay, there will undoubtedly be many disadvantaged children unable to see the classroom whiteboard this year.

The chair of VisionCare NSW’s board, Professor Brian Layland, agreed that disadvantaged children starting school who have vision issues picked up early in the year will have to sit around until July 1 before the problem can be resolved.

“There will certainly be some in that position,” he said.

“How many, I don’t know.”