KOTA KINABALU: Mathematics can be hard. But for children with dyscalculia, a learning disorder, it can feel impossible.
Now, a group of Malaysian researchers has won international recognition – and critical funding – for developing a groundbreaking tool to help these children grasp numbers.
Led by the Education Ministry’s assistant instructional development sector director Dr Yoong Soo May, the team clinched the Platinum Award at the Innovation for Disability-Inclusive Education Competition (iDIEC), offering fresh hope for learners long left behind in the classroom.
The competition was held during the 6th International Conference on Special Education recently.
Their win did not just come with global recognition but also included a research grant from the Sultan Idris Education University’s Metic Board, which will help expand and improve their innovation, an assistive tool designed to support children with dyscalculia in learning maths.
“This means a lot to us. Our hard work and dedication to help dyscalculic students has finally been recognised internationally,” said team member Dr Fu Sai Hoe.
According to Fu, the innovation, still at prototype stage, was developed to bridge a gap in classroom learning, especially for children who continue to fall behind in maths despite receiving standard support.
“The scope of the Metic Board and Basic Metic includes number sense and the four basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
“Some of the key elements within this model are subitising, estimating, comparison, approximation, calculation, parity, counting, addition and more.
“These elements were carefully considered in the development of the techniques used in the Metic Board and the Basic Metic book series,” said Fu.
With the grant, the team plans to refine the tool and test it in school.
