SANDAKAN: A pioneering workshop on dyscalculia intervention was successfully conducted from 19 to 20 July 2025 at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
The event was funded by the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO and organised by the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Accounting (FPEP), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), under the leadership of Dr. Christina Wong Sing Yun, serving as the project leader.
The workshop brought together 15 dedicated remedial teachers from the Penampang District, equipping them with essential knowledge and practical tools to identify and support pupils with dyscalculia—a specific learning difficulty that affects number sense, basic arithmetic, and mathematical reasoning.
A key highlight of the program was a session led by Dr. Fu Sai Hoe, a prominent dyscalculia researcher and Remedial Officer from the Sandakan District Education Office. Dr. Fu introduced the NUMI (Numeracy Intervention) framework, grounded in cognitive learning theory, and guided participants through the “I do – We do – You do” model under the Reconnecting Learning approach.
“Children with dyscalculia are often overlooked in the classroom. Through this initiative, we aim to empower teachers with the strategies to ensure these learners are not left behind,” Dr. Fu shared during his keynote.
Dr. Christina Wong emphasised the critical role of cross-disciplinary collaboration in advancing inclusive education. “This workshop reflects our commitment to supporting foundational numeracy skills for all learners, particularly those who need targeted intervention,” she said, while expressing gratitude to the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO for their support.
Participants left the two-day session with renewed confidence and actionable strategies to apply in their classrooms. The event marks a significant step toward strengthening numeracy intervention practices in Sabah.
