KATHMANDU, Feb 17: One of 50 stalls in Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 at Jawalakhel Football Ground is that of Universal Concepts of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS).
The stall on the right corner of the venue has abacuses which attract young visitors instantly. A video showing students of UCMAS and discussing benefits of the course is playing throughout the day.
UCMAS, an internationally recognized medium of learning with its principle office in Malaysia, is being practiced in more than 55 countries around the world. The course boasts of improving children’s concentration power, hearing capacity, listening power, logical application, creativity and building photographic memory.
Students of age 4 to 12 can take the course in various countries but in Nepal, the course has been allocated for students between the age of 5 and 13. “Students work up to triple digit and 20 rows of arithmetic sums,” informed Executive Director of national franchisee of UCMAS in Nepal, Kailash Kunwar Chhetri.
“As soon as we hear ‘3’ or any number, the image that comes in our minds is of the number itself. When I say an apple, you don’t think of number one but an apple. What I am trying to say is that learning should be visual based, students should be able to picture things when they are learning about it,” explained Chhetri to parents inquiring about the program at the stall.
Shalav was one of the many curious visitors at the stall. He was with his wife and one-year-old daughter. The parents started teaching their daughter basic numbers by flashing flashcards and their daughter is already learning the basics of Spanish and Mandarin language.
Children, along with their parents, look at the various games offered by one of the stalls at the Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 at the Jawalakhel Football Ground in Patan. The children’s extravaganza is set to conclude on February 18. (Bijay Rai/Republica)
Really interested in the UCMAS course, Shalav asked Chhetri if he could enroll his daughter at the age of three or three and a half.
“We try and keep her engaged but we also make sure that she doesn’t get bored. It is hard for children to focus on things and they easily lose their concentration. If she starts learning now she’ll be as good as a native speaker in the future,” shared Shalav, adding parents should be enthusiastic at least in their early learning phase.
Similarly, Kiran Dhakal, who has a five-year-old son, said, “I had enrolled my eldest son in the UCMAS course. My complaint is that the classes are on Saturdays and children cannot even enjoy their day-off.”
“My suggestion is UCMAS should coordinate with schools and incorporate classes within school’s timetable. I have to cancel my day-outs to take my son to UCMAS classes. It would be easier for us if it’s included in the school hours,” he further added.
The stall also has games where students are given arithmetic sums to calculate and upon solving them, gift hampers can be won!
A complete extravaganza for children, which includes food, fun, shopping as well as entertainment, Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 began on February 15 and will conclude on February 18, 2013.
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