KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated RM2.028mil to establish the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) in Miri, aimed at supporting children with learning disabilities in the region, including those from Limbang, Lawas, and Baram.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah announced the funding, stating that Miri currently ranks second highest in Sarawak for children aged six and below registered with learning disabilities, with 391 children as of December 2023, trailing behind Kuching.
“Expanding OSEIC Sarawak to other divisions, including rural areas, is crucial to creating more opportunities for special needs children to have access to early diagnosis, effective intervention programmes, and therapy sessions.
“OSEIC Miri will begin operations in October this year. We are in the middle of renovating the designated building and providing training for teachers and staff.
“This is in line with our Sarawak government’s initiative towards achieving inclusivity and ensuring that no one is left behind.”
She was speaking at the OSEIC Graduation Day Ceremony Year 2023 held at the Waterfront Hotel here on Friday (Feb 16).
At the ceremony, 91 OSEIC students graduated, comprising 68 boys and 23 girls from both OSEIC Kuching (82 children) and OSEIC Dalat (nine children).
Notably, out of the graduating students, 27 will transition to the mainstream schooling system, while the rest will enrol in the Special Integration Education Programme.
Fatimah highlighted the positive trend observed since the inception of OSEIC in 2020, with an increasing number of children benefitting from interventions and moving to mainstream schools.
She noted a significant rise from the first cohort in 2020, where only one out of 47 children proceeded to mainstream schools, to 11 students in the second cohort, and now, 27 students in the third cohort.
“We are pleased to witness our children progressing towards formal schooling through early intervention and diagnosis.
“OSEIC has facilitated opportunities for our children to receive the necessary intervention, enabling their integration into mainstream schools.”
Also present were Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development permanent secretary Noriah Ahmad, Women and Family Department director Salmah Jobeli, OSEIC management committee chairman Zaidi Ahmad, and SeDidik Sdn Bhd general manager Ayub Dahari.
