KUCHING: Once a new Learning and Resource Centre in Desa Wira, Batu Kawa is completed, it will serve and cater to more dyslexic local children and those from outside this city.
The RM3.5-million building will have ten classrooms. There will also be hostels for rural kids.
Presently the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak (DASwk) has only two classrooms in its centre at Banglo Kalaka (Sri Meluan), Lorong Maxwell 2.
Education, Science and Technological Research Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee officiated at the earth-breaking ceremony for the Desa Wira centre on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari, whose text of speech was read by Annuar, praised the association for raising public awareness of dyslexia while helping dyslexic children through their intervention programmes.
“In the 1990s, dyslexia was not really understood by the general public in the state. However, due to the hard work of the association, the understanding of dyslexia is widely spread among educators, parents and the public,” he said.
He said dyslexic children have difficulties reading, writing, spelling and counting, but their conditions can be improved through early interventions and given the right educational approach and techniques.
“Dyslexia is not a disease. Special Education in the Ministry of Education defines dyslexic children as students with intellectual intelligence, high IQ and creativity.
“The creativity and success of dyslexic people can be seen in great men such as Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Lee Kuan Yew,” he said.
He said the state government recognises the importance of children as future leaders that contribute to the development of the country, and these include those of special needs children which are valuable human capital in order to face the challenges of the digital age and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0).
“Therefore, it is important to diagnose children with dyslexia as early as possible so that their conditions are not neglected or excluded from schools,” he stressed.
He then said it was because of the association, more than 500 children, not only from Sarawak, but also from Sabah, Labuan, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia have benefited from the intervention programmes.
“The smarter phonics programme developed by the association has been used by all State Education Department’s preschools since 2017. It is very effective in helping children from four to six years old learn to read and write English,” he said.
He also thanked the association for collaborating with Yayasan Sarawak, Sarawak Energy Bhd and others to carry out English and Bahasa Melayu literary camps for Penan children in Murum and Belaga and also Orang Asli children in Selangor.
“Indeed, the state government recognises the number of programmes and activities undertaken by this association. And it is the government’s hope that when the centre is completed, the association will expand its functions,” he said, adding that these could include making the new place into a national or international referral centre.
Also present at the earth-breaking ceremony were DASwk president Dr Ong Puay Hoon, DASwk patron Datin Azerina Mohd Arip and Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
