Fu (seated front, right) posing for the camera during one of his maths masterclasses with teachers.
FOR Dr Fu Sai Hoe, mathematics is more than a subject. It is a mission.
Born and raised in Sandakan, Fu’s natural gift for numbers showed early.
From primary school through to his SPM exams, he aced every mathematics paper. But it was a single sentence from a university lecturer that reshaped his path forever.
“Teach the kids how to live a good life,” said Dr Ng Pei Fern during his undergraduate studies in mathematics education, words that planted a seed which would become his life’s work.
Today, Fu is a regional expert in mathematics education and a specialist in dyscalculia, a learning difficulty that often goes unrecognised, yet affects many children’s understanding of numbers.
He is also the founder of Numi (Numeracy Intervention), a programme dedicated to training teachers across South-East Asia to identify and support students with numeracy challenges, particularly those aged seven to nine.
“It is never just about equations. It is about equipping children with the skills to reason, to make decisions, to think for themselves,” said the 40-year-old.
Fu (standing) observing the work of maths teachers during one of his masterclasses.
Fu’s career began at the Temenggong Ibrahim Teacher Education Institute in Johor, in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.
His first posting to SJKC Chiaw Nan in Sarawak coincided with the nationwide launch of the LINUS programme, aimed at boosting literacy and numeracy among early primary students.
It was there that he noticed something troubling.
“Children sitting in the same classroom had vastly different learning needs, but were all being taught the same way,. There was a gap ... and I wanted to bridge it,” he said.
Since then, Fu has dedicated his work to closing that gap. His philosophy is simple yet profound.
To him maths is not about memorising formulas, it is about learning how to think.
Fu advocates teaching methods that go beyond rote memorisation. His approach centres on mental representation, the ability to visualise numbers and their relationships, and reasoning, the foundation of logical thought.
“These skills last long after school. We don’t teach maths to raise calculators. We teach it to raise thinkers,” said Fu.
As a master trainer and researcher, Fu has worked with countless educators across Malaysia and the region.
His PhD research in Sandakan proved that with the right intervention, even students who struggle the most can master basic numeracy.
But the work is not easy.
“With children, it is about understanding how their brains develop. With teachers, it is about attitude. Both require empathy, patience, and a willingness to learn.”
For Fu, mathematics will always be more than numbers.
“It is a journey, one that starts with understanding, and ends with purpose.”
