New DASwk building enhances dyslexia support

KUCHING, Oct 15: A new building for the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak (DASwk) is expected to strengthen intervention programmes and support for children with dyslexia and learning difficulties in Sarawak.

Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Sarawak, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the building, completed this year, began operations in September with the help of a Sarawak government grant.

She said the facility, particularly its residential component, should be fully utilised to enable children from rural and remote areas to attend intervention classes.

“Alhamdulillah, we have a very good team that ensures the government grant is properly utilized to the maximum and now the building is finally completed.

“We must fully utilize this building which includes a residential component as we wanted those from rural areas to be able to come during holidays and be able to be taught by our teachers as part of intervention for their learning disabilities,” she said while delivering her keynote address at the Sarawak International Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities Conference (SIDLDC) 2026 here today.

Fatimah said, the new building reflected the state government’s commitment to addressing the needs of children with dyslexia.

She also highlighted the role of the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC), established in 2020 to support children with developmental and learning needs.

As of June 30th, a total of 3,051 children had received assistance through OSEIC, with 518 completing their intervention programmes.

Of those who completed the programmes, 145 had entered mainstream education, while 303 were placed in the Special Education Integration Programme (PPKI) and another 70 attended Special Education National Schools (SKPK).

The figures demonstrated the importance of early intervention and appropriate support in helping children develop their abilities and reach their full potential.

She also called for closer collaboration between OSEIC, DASwk and the Sarawak Education Department to strengthen early detection, intervention and continuity of educational support.

“Every child has the potential to develop if given the right attention, guidance and timely intervention,” she said. – TVS