by Curlan Campbell
- Part 1 posted on 23 October 2024
- Recently, Malacai has learned about the Dozenal system
- Parents sought expertise of Dr Andrea Dennison, registered educational psychologist
Malacai’s extraordinary mental abilities to compute complex multiplication equations that would stump an adult seem to have no bounds. The young math prodigy gained significant attention on social media after a story about him was posted on NOW Grenada on 23 October 2024. Since then, the story has received positive reviews on social media, and his parents report that they have been the centre of attention lately.
Malacai’s father, Nigel Edwards, stated that the public’s response to their son’s remarkable abilities was overwhelming. “This story has been circulating widely. Good friends from Mexico sent me images of what was published, and it’s incredible how quickly news can spread. We’re happy to see the impact and the responses we’re receiving, all of which are positive and encouraging. People are expressing a desire to do more to help him.”
Malacai’s mother, Fayola, is very grateful for the outpouring of support for her son. “People are thrilled to hear about his abilities, and many have come to congratulate us,” she said. “While I appreciate their happiness, I do wonder what the congratulations are for. He has natural talents, and we are simply happy to support him along the way.”
What makes Malacai so special, and how can a seemingly normal 5-year-old be so intelligent? Recently, he learned about the Dozenal system, which I discovered is a numerical system that counts in 12s instead of 10s. It is said to be much more efficient and easier than the decimal system. Now, Malacai is teaching his parents, who are struggling to keep up with his rapid pace of learning.
“The conversation in the house is always about numbers. He constantly asks us about them. Recently, he taught us about different number systems, one of which is the Dozenal system, something I didn’t know about before. While driving, he gives us equations to solve and has also taught us the terminology needed to answer those questions,” his mother said.
During a recent update, the parents sought the expertise of Dr Andrea Dennison, a registered educational psychologist specialising in psycho-educational testing in Barbados, who offered them valuable insights.
“We are grateful to Dr Dennison for discussing Malacai with us. She provided important information about the tendencies of gifted children and suggested promising options we could explore for him. We now feel more confident in choosing the right path for his future,” Fayola said.
“Like all parents, I want my child to succeed academically. My desire is to play a constructive role in guiding him towards the direction he wants to pursue,” Nigel said.
Due to confidentiality, the specifics of the conversation between the parents and Dr Dennison cannot be disclosed; however, the parents are now better equipped to navigate Malacai’s educational journey.
Although Malacai can be somewhat distracted in the classroom — something his parents believe needs to be addressed to improve his focus — he still excels in Language, Reading, and Math.
God bless him !