Soroban Maths: changing the way South African children learn

18 April 2016 - 16:05 By Lior Feigin
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Soroban Maths education has been prevalent in Eastern countries for thousands of years. Children start to learn the basics of mathematics through the use of an abacus from a very young age.

This develops both the left and right sides of the brain simultaneously, and has been shown to be extremely successful.

Japanese children that have been schooled in the United States are top of their class, as the average Japanese six-year-old’s IQ is 11 points higher than those of their American or European counterparts. Strangely enough, though, they would require private schooling upon their return to Japan, as the Japanese schooling system is much more advanced than those in the US and most other countries. This information can leave us South Africans slightly wary, especially as our country was ranked second-last out of 140 countries in the World Economic Forum Global Competitive Report in October 2015. Where exactly do we fit in?

Yet there is a silver lining to this dark cloud that looms over the state of education in our country: A+Students. The innovative organisation has been training South African children from the ages of two and a half in mathematics using a Japanese soroban, and the results are astounding. Not only have these young geniuses beaten the CEOs of large corporate companies at arithmetic challenges, but they have also proudly taken home several international awards at global maths competitions.

A+Students,a whole-brain development course, was initiated in South Africa more than a decade ago. In December 2015, 28 young A+Students maths geniuses represented South Africa at the 15th PAMA Global Abacus & Mental Arithmetic Competition and returned with two champion, four gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze awards collectively! What an unbelievable achievement for South Africa.

With A+Students creating a stir in the press and its young maths geniuses doing so exceptionally well on an international level against countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and the US, attention has shifted to the fact that not all is lost when it comes to maths in South Africa. According to international newspapers, the next Einstein might be an African woman!

But unfortunately, funds are concentrated on infrastructure and medicine, when education lacks on such a large and vital scale.

Therefore, like many other things in South Africa, it starts with us – individuals, parents and teachers. To invest in a child’s education is to create one more building block in constructing and uplifting our country.

Introducing children to the magic of Soroban Maths education not only makes a difference in a child’s confidence and competence levels, but also allows for South Africa to stand a chance to pass our own Maths test on a global level.

For more info click here.

Website:A+Students.co.za

Source: Lior Feigin

This content was paid for by Just Perfect. It was produced via the Times Media commercial department and does not involve Times Media journalists.

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