Main Literacy Programme

Main Literacy Programme (MLP)

To Map, Lead and Provide a comprehensive and high-quality programme for those who learn differently, including those with dyslexia, delivered by inspired Educational Therapists

The Main Literacy Programme (MLP), delivered by trained Educational Therapists, provides a comprehensive and quality curriculum that supports primary and secondary school learners with dyslexia and other specific learning differences as well as those students who face literacy challenges without a diagnosis. MLP aims to not only help students acquire the necessary literacy skills to cope with academic demands but also strives to provide a conducive learning environment for them to develop their strengths and build their confidence and resilience.

A diagnosis of a specific learning difference is no longer a prerequisite to access DAS Programmes. We have now opened our doors to struggling learners, whether they have a formal diagnosis of a learning difference or not. To access our programmes, all students will undergo profiling tests, a simple step to ensure they are placed in a class that best suits their learning needs. We’re dedicated to providing tailored support to every child, empowering them to reach their full potential.

Curriculum Framework

Main Literacy Programme (MLP) provides a comprehensive and quality curriculum to support students who struggle to learn, these students can have a diagnosis of dyslexia or specific learning differences or facing literacy challenges, delivered by highly trained professionals.

TARGETING SUCCESS

Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

Reading Fluency

Reading Comprehension

Language and Vocabulary

Writing

RESOURCES

Language and Vocabulary

Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

Morphology

Grammar for Writing

Advanced Writing

Reading Comprehension

To promote and facilitate reading and spelling development
To equip students with the essential comprehension skills needed to draw inferences
To accentuate the importance of reading fluency through the deliberate planning of reading tasks that take into account students’ reading fluency and accuracy
To emphasis vocabulary development of sight and high-frequency word through instructions leveraging on Edu-Technology
To develop diverse localised manuals, materials and resources to cater to the learning needs of students

DAS Main Literacy Programme (MLP) is part-subsidised by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

MLP Eligibility

DAS Main Literacy Programme MOE-Aided [(MLP(MA)] is subsidised by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Students are eligible for MOE subsidy for the MLP(MA) under the following conditions:

The student has a diagnosis of dyslexia and

The student is a Singapore Citizen and is attending an MOE Mainstream School* which qualifies for MOE subsidy for the MLP(MA), or

The student is a Singapore PR/Foreigner but has one Singaporean parent. The student is attending an MOE Mainstream School*, which qualifies for MOE subsidy for the MLP(MA).
* A list of MOE Mainstream Schools can be found here: MOE Mainstream Schools

The student must maintain at least 75% attendance.

For Secondary students enrolling from 1 January 2026 onwards

- Students who achieved Achievement Levels (AL) 1 to 5 in PSLE English Language at the Standard level will not be eligible for MOE subsidy for MLP(MA). These students may still enrol in the MLP under standard programme fees.

MOE subsidy will continue to be available for:

All primary school students

Secondary school students who achieved AL6 to AL8 in PSLE English Language (Standard level)

Secondary school students who took Foundation level PSLE English Language.

Secondary school students currently enrolled in the MLP-MA before 1 January 2026

Please note that DAS and MOE will conduct a review of the student’s progress before his/her 48, 72 and 96 months on the Main Literacy Programme to determine if he/she has reached specific achievement points to be eligible for continued MOE subsidy.

For more information about the student’s eligibility, please contact DAS at [email protected]

Financial Assistance for other students on MLP

For students who do not meet the above criteria, standard fees will apply for the MLP. However, DAS is dedicated to supporting students in need and offers additional funding options for families requiring financial assistance.

💙 Bursaries are available for ALL DAS Programmes.

Please reach out to us to discuss how we may be able to help.

For a Psycho-Educational Assessment, please click here.

The DAS Main Literacy Programme (MLP) Evaluation is published in the DAS Handbook.

Who we are

We are a dedicated team of professionals committed to providing the best possible support for individuals who learn differently, including those with dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Our mission is to empower students by offering tailored identification, assessment, and intervention services that address each learner’s unique challenges and strengths.

Our Educational Therapists go beyond simply delivering lessons; they design, implement, and evaluate targeted interventions crafted specifically for each student’s needs. Our approach is not one-size-fits-all but a personalised journey that seeks to unlock each student’s potential and foster a love for learning.

Together, we work to bring out the best in our students by creating a supportive, nurturing, and adaptive learning environment.

Our Team Includes:

Educational Therapists – Specialists in designing and delivering customised interventions.
Psychologists – Experts in assessments and understanding learning profiles to identify strengths and areas of improvement.
Educational Advisors – Guides who support our educational team with insights into appropriate educational solutions and strategies and provides mentorship to our team of specialists.
Curriculum Specialists – Innovators who develop curriculum resources and materials aligned with evidence-based practices for diverse learners.
EduTech Representatives – Advocates of educational technology that enhances learning experiences through engaging, interactive tools including the use of AI apps.

Find out more about our staff here

What do we assess for?

The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) provides support for:

Students from Primary 1 to Secondary 5 – Including those diagnosed with dyslexia, other specific learning differences, and students who are struggling with similar learning challenges.
Adults with Literacy Difficulties – We offer assistance for adults who may face challenges in literacy and wish to improve their skills.

Find out more about our SpLD Assessment Services (SAS) and how we can support you here

Educational Technology

Today, more than ever, the role of educational technologies is of great importance and it is becoming the commonplace in the area of education to harness the interest of students and add value to the learning objectives.

Technology integration for digital literacy and the 21st century skills of critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and communication and information literacy have become increasingly important. By using technology, these skills can be imparted to the learners. However, to do this effectively, pedagogical models need to be used.

Some of the main guiding pedagogies employed by EdTech are TPACK and SAMR models. The TPACK – Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge – is about designing lessons incorporating technology to support the arranged content through a pedagogically supported approach (Figure 1). The SAMR model (Figure 2) on the other hand facilitates the practical aspect and scales the various levels of use of educational technologies into four broad levels so that educators can know the level of their technology integration in the lesson (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition) and how they can further elevate the activity.

The EdTech Team is focused on the application and study of educational technologies and how it enhances skills and cognitive characteristics in both educators and learners. The team thus pilots and leads initiatives with educational technologies such as studying users’ perceptions on uses of iPads in the DAS classrooms, the impact of Mimio Teach Smart Bars on educators and dyslexic learners, and the formative approach to the digitalisation of the Curriculum-Based Assessments.

EdTech in DAS is at its beginning stages but the bigger plans are on the way to ensure that not only traditional learning methods are modernised but also that the use of educational technologies is purposeful to student-oriented learning.

Our Curriculum

The Main Literacy Programme (MLP) provides a comprehensive and quality curriculum to support students with dyslexia facing literacy challenges. The MLP curriculum integrates key essential learning components that are crucial in remediating students with learning difficulties and these recommended areas of instruction are adapted from the National Reading Panel, 2000.

PROGRESS MONITORING

Our students’ progress is monitored closely through bi-annual curriculum-based assessments – MAPTrack – conducted by our Educational Therapists. This close evaluation allows our Educational Therapists to make informed and needful adjustments in their teaching to address the needs of the child. Our lessons are not static it allows for flexibility to suit the varied needs of our dyslexic students.

As awareness grows and more students with learning differences receive exam access arrangements nationally, our tailored approach ensures that students are well-prepared not just academically, but also supported in a way that aligns with these broader inclusive efforts. DAS remains committed to equipping each learner to thrive with the right support.

Click here to read an article by Dr Geetha Shantha Ram, Director of the English Language and Literacy division, and Kathleen Chan, Senior Specialist Psychologist, featured in The Straits Times, which highlights the growing importance of inclusive exam arrangements for students with learning needs.

What We Teach

Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension Curriculum includes essential reading comprehension skills that are closely aligned with the mainstream curriculum. It also consists of skills that are taught and delivered according to the PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production) stages to:

facilitate the pre-activity discussions through modelling
scaffold and guide students in a structured, cumulative and sequential manner to enhance learning
provide opportunities for students to be independent in applying the concepts/skills learnt

Localisation of Curriculum

The MLP curriculum and resources have been localised to better suit our bilingual learners and more importantly, to make learning more accessible and contextualised for them.

Watch examples of what our MLP classes are like:

Band A

Band B

Band C

How are we different?

The Main Literacy Programme (MLP) is delivered using the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach

Lessons are taught following the Orton-Gillingham principles:

Emotionally sound – Lessons tailored to students’ abilities
Structured, sequential and cumulative – Concepts are broken down into smaller parts & taught one at a time, progressively & cumulatively
Direct and Explicit – Instructions, objectives and activities are explicit
Simultaneously Multisensory – Ensure multiple pathways to learning (Gillingham & Stillman, 1997)
Cognitive Approach – Students understand why each concept is taught

The Main Literacy Programme (MLP) has been audited by the Ministry of Education, Singapore

“Services offered under MOE-aided DAS Literacy Programme* are appropriate, and remain highly relevant in providing additional literacy support for students with dyslexia” – MOE 2015 Audit

* The MOE-aided DAS Literacy Programme is now known as the DAS Main Literacy Programme (MLP).

DAS Programmes are evaluated and published in the DAS Handbook.

DAS Research on the Main Literacy Programme (MLP)

MLP Works — And We Have the Data to Prove It

How do you know a literacy programme really works?

At DAS, we track it. Measure it. And improve it.

Over 1,300 students with dyslexia were part of a multi-year study that validated the impact of our Main Literacy Programme (MLP) — and the results were clear:

📈 Significant, consistent gains in reading, spelling, and writing
🧠 Real learning, not just short-term improvements
✅ One cohort improved from 48.5% to 62.4% over 3 years

Delivered by trained Educational Therapists and grounded in the Orton-Gillingham approach, MLP is more than a programme — it’s a lifeline for learners who think and learn differently.

💬 “These are real results for real kids. And it reinforces that our programme works.”
– Sharyfah Nur Fitriya, DAS Educational Advisor

Find out more about this Research: bit.ly/DAS-NEWS

MLP RESEARCH

Fitriya, S. N. (2021). Evaluating the longitudinal progress of a large sample of dyslexic children in reading, spelling and writing. Asia Pacific Journal of Developmental Differences, 8(2), 238—249
DOI: 10.3850/S2345734121000103

DAS Support – Empowering students with learning differences

DAS equips educational therapists with in-house lesson plans to help students respond to bullying with care and discretion. We also engage parents through regular meet-the-parents sessions, workshops, and updates, creating a supportive network that empowers both students and families.

Read forum articles written by our team, featured in The Straits Times:
https://str.sg/uaBd
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-policy-alone-not-sufficient-to-tackle-school-bullying

🧠 Therapist-Led Support

Custom in-house lesson plans
Designed to help students respond to bullying discreetly and constructively
Implemented by trained Educational Therapists

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Engagement

Belief in strong home-school partnerships
Parents play a key role in student wellbeing

📅 How We Involve Parents

Regular meet-the-parents sessions
Informative workshops and talks
Regular progress updates and communication

💬 Our Goal

Create a safe, empowering environment
Support students emotionally and academically through collaboration

DAS bursaries – Financial support for students with dyslexia

DAS believes that no child should be left behind because he or she cannot afford the cost of a DAS education. The provision of bursaries is critical as it levels the playing field for children with dyslexia from lower-income families. DAS and MOE provide financial assistance in the form of bursaries to Singapore students or to students who have at least one parent who is a Singaporean.

The student must also be attending a MOE mainstream school between Primary One (1) and Secondary Five (5).

Find out more here: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Online Learning with Main Literacy Programme

In February, preparations for online learning was of utmost importance to DAS Educational Therapists as they began familiarising their students with Google Hangouts Meet and Gmail. Students of the Main Literacy Programme spent approximately 10-15 minutes of their lesson getting to know their DAS email address and passwords and accessed Gmail and Google Hangouts Meet to get to know the functions as well as the necessary information they’ll need in order to continue their remediation should home-based learning be implemented.

That was just the beginning of the big wave of changes that turned things around for our students, parents, and our colleagues. The Main Literacy Programme has always stayed grounded on delivering quality remediation, by individualising instructional materials and accommodating learning differences within a very small group of learners.

READ ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES WITH ONLINE LEARNING HERE:

TEACHING THE MAIN LITERACY PROGRAMME ONLINE!! REFLECTIONS ON HOME-BASED LESSONS

REFLECTIONS ON HOME-BASED LESSONS BY das PARENTS

CEO THOUGHTS: das EMBRACES ONLINE LEARNING!

A PEEK INTO A CONVERSATION BY EDUCATIONAL THERAPISTS ON ONLINE TEACHING!

OUR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHARES THEIR ONLINE TEACHING EXPERIENCES – Part 1

OUR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHARES THEIR ONLINE TEACHING EXPERIENCES – Part 2

OUR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHARES THEIR ONLINE TEACHING EXPERIENCES – Part 3

RIDING OUT THE STORM – GROWING THROUGH ONLINE TEACHING

EDUTECH RESOURCES AND TIPS

E-RESOURCES FOR ALL!

IT’S IN OUR DNA! PART 1

IT’S IN OUR DNA! PART 2

IT’S IN OUR DNA! PART 3

SAFE YOUTUBE EXPLAINED!

GOOGLE LENS

TEXT-TO-SPEECH CHROME EXTENSIONS

These BLOGS are featured in our #CIRCUITBREAKER NEWS Series in the DAS NEWS & HAPPENINGS BLOG find more interesting articles in the blog section!

Main Literacy Programme (MLP)
Structured Mandatory Make-Ups (SMMU)

We want every child to get the very best out of our Main Literacy Programme (MLP). The programme, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE), provides up to 80 hours of literacy support each year. Regular attendance (at least 75%) helps students build steady progress and confidence.

To ensure no child misses out, we provide catch-up lessons (Structured Mandatory Make-ups, SMMU) in Week 11 of each term. These lessons provide students with the opportunity to recover learning time lost due to public holidays, DAS closure days (effective from 2022 onwards), or when their attendance falls below 75%. This way, every child has the opportunity to stay on track and fully benefit from the programme.

What is SMMU (Structured Mandatory Make-ups)?

SMMU is a supplementary lesson. It is not intended as a one-to-one replacement for missed classes. Instead, it provides students with carefully designed literacy support through a structured and interactive online format.

Each SMMU lesson focuses on three important areas of literacy:
● Reading Comprehension
● Writing
● Vocabulary

Thoughtfully Designed for Students

All SMMU lessons are planned and curated by our team of experienced Educational Therapists.

The sessions include engaging activities that:
● Build on relevant skills students can apply in their academic work
● Strengthen comprehension skills and writing abilities
● Expand their vocabulary knowledge for greater confidence in reading and expression

Unlike our regular MLP intervention; which is tailored to individual learning profiles; SMMU is conducted in groups. This group format gives students a valuable chance to:
● Interact with peers
● Experience social learning opportunities
● Benefit from exposure to different teaching styles and perspectives

Why attendance for SMMU Matters

SMMU plays an essential role in ensuring that your child receives the full 80 hours of support promised under the MLP. More than just a make-up class, it is an opportunity for students to strengthen literacy skills, build confidence, and engage with learning in ways that will support them across all areas of their academic journey.

A Note to Parents

We want to assure you that SMMU is designed to be both beneficial and manageable for your child. Lessons are thoughtfully planned to keep students engaged, without overwhelming them, especially since they take place during the school holidays.

In addition, as education continues to evolve, online learning is becoming an essential skill that students cannot avoid in the future. Participating in SMMU gives your child valuable practice in learning effectively in an online environment; building independence, adaptability, and confidence in using technology for education.

Through SMMU, your child not only fulfils required intervention hours but also develops important academic and life skills that will serve them well in the years ahead.

Schedule for SMMU in 2026:

Year 2026	SMMU Dates
Term 1	17 March 2026 & 18 March 2026
Term 2	2 June 2026 & 3 June 2026
Term 3	8 September 2026 & 9 September 2026
Term 4	23 November 2026 & 24 November 2026

For more details on SMMU MLP lessons each term, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the DAS Main Literacy Programme?

The DAS Main Literacy Programme provides a comprehensive and quality curriculum to support dyslexic students facing literacy challenges. The curriculum integrates key essential learning components that are crucial in remediating students with learning difficulties. Depending on your child’s needs and progress, the following components may be covered in the curriculum:

Phonemic Awareness and Phonics.
Reading Fluency
Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary
Writing

Why is my child referred to the DAS Main Literacy Programme?

Your child is referred to the DAS Main Literacy Programme because educators working with him/her have identified his/her needs for specialist literacy intervention.

Why must my child be assessed before starting DAS Main Literacy Programme lessons?

The diagnosis of dyslexia is determined through a psycho-educational assessment. During the assessment, information is gathered from interviews with you (parents/caregivers), feedback from teachers, testing of your child’s abilities, and behavioural observations. These will then be integrated and results discussed with you (parents/caregivers). The psycho-educational assessment provides useful information about your child’s strengths and needs and provides greater insight into the nature and extent of the difficulties that your child may have. The assessment also helps to identify the learning needs of your child, so that appropriate intervention that is suitable for your child can be recommended.

MLP fees are also part subsidised by MOE and in order to be eligible for the subsidised rate, a diagnosis of dyslexia is required.

My child is already attending tuition, why should he attend DAS Main Literacy Programme?

MLP classes are exclusively for children diagnosed with dyslexia. Our Educational Therapists are specially trained to cater to the needs of dyslexic students. A dyslexic child is a quick learner and also a quick forgetter and learning by rote memory or practising without using the right strategies will not help and might instead frustrate.

No two dyslexic learners are alike, hence our lessons are not alike also. Each lesson is planned and delivered based on your child’s needs and aimed at the level of the learner. Our lessons are, therefore:

Structured and sequential: we have a prescribed lesson plan that our Educational Therapists use to plan and conduct lessons. Elements of language is taught in bite-sized pieces to facilitate easy learning and also to ensure students are not overwhelmed with too much information at one go.

Each lesson comprises of phonics/morphology, language and vocabulary instruction, comprehension and/or writing, i.e a comprehensive literacy programme.

Cumulative: We start with the simple and move on to more complex and we revisit previously taught concepts to reinforce memory.
Simultaneous multisensory: Dyslexic learners learn best when the visual, auditory, kinaesthetic and tactile are employed all at once.
Emotionally sound: Many dyslexics have struggled with academics and may feel demotivated. We ensure that learning is structured for success so that they begin to feel confident about themselves as learners.

How much does an assessment cost?

To view the full price list for an assessment, click here for more details.

Is there any financial assistance available?

Yes, DAS offers bursaries to families to offset the cost of assessments and /or educational therapy. Please speak to the Customer Service Officer at 6444 5700 for more information.

For more information on the DAS Main Literacy Programme, please contact us.

Those Who Learn Differently

Dyslexia

Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)

Checklists

About Our Services

SpLD Assessments

Outreach & Awareness

Workshops

News

Events

Webinars

Join DAS

Are you...

Embrace Dyslexia

DAS Subsidiaries

Contact Us

Those Who Learn Differently

Dyslexia

Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)

Checklists

About Our Services

SpLD Assessments

Outreach & Awareness

Workshops

News

Events

Webinars

Join DAS

Are you...

Embrace Dyslexia

DAS Subsidiaries

Contact Us

Main Literacy Programme