The “Perya Matematika,” the game-based remediation strategy developed by a local teacher, is giving learners having difficulty in Math a chance to learn the rudiments of the subject while having an enjoyable time.

In an interview Friday, Master Teacher 1 Christian Rodrigo Runtal, who is assigned at the Barbaza National High School in the Municipality of Barbaza in this province, said he developed the strategy as an “action research” that was funded under their Basic Education Research Fund (BERF) back in 2019 when they were holding remedial sessions by clusters in the barangays.

Under the strategy, learners are taught mathematical skills through playing “perya” or carnival games. The four games being held during the remediation sessions are color, bingo, rings and balls that are commonly seen in the carnival.

The game-based strategy was declared as champion in the Department of Education Schools Division of Antique Innovation Showdown held in this capital town last Nov. 15.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we conducted the remedial sessions for learners who have difficulty in Math by bringing our perya games to them,” Runtal said.

Without face-to-face classes, learners had difficulty in understanding the Math concepts using only their modules, so there is a need to give them supplemental materials, he said.

With in-person classes now in full swing, Runtal said Perya Matematika remedial sessions are being conducted in the schoolgrounds once or twice a week for 10 to 40 learners of Grades 7 to 10.

“Our school and other stakeholders are helping us in the conduct of the remedial sessions that run for about an hour,” he said.

Their school is providing simple prizes for the winners of the games such as paper, notebook and protractor that are needed by the learners.

“The learners enjoy the games while they master their Math competencies. It is through Perya Matimatika that learners who are impatient, and may even fear Math, are able to show a significant increase in their skills,” Runtal said. (PNA)