Empowering Minds: Shenmo Education Rwanda’s Abacus Graduation Marks a Milestone in Cognitive Growth

By Emmanuel Mutangana (E-mail: info@topafricanews.com)

The 2024 Shenmo Abacus Summer Camp Graduation and Parent Meeting took place on August 28, 2024, at Excella School, Kigali Rwanda, marking the successful conclusion of the program for students who attended Abacus Summer Camps at three locations: Shenmo Training Center, St Joseph School, and Excella School.

This collective graduation showcased students’ abacus mental math skills through impressive performances and engaged parents through hands-on activities and informative sessions. Key highlights included student demonstrations from all three camp locations, parent introductions to abacus techniques, certificate ceremony for students and testimonials.

The Abacus Mental Math program is a technique for performing arithmetic calculations by visualizing and manipulating beads. It involves using a physical or virtual abacus. This method improves mental calculation abilities by training the brain to perform complex operations without relying on digital tools, improving numerical fluency, cognitive skills, and concentration.

During her speech, Brigitte UWITONZE, Principal of Shenmo Education Rwanda, praised students who completed Levels One, Two, and Three for their dedication and hard work in the Abacus program.

She said, “Congratulations on your perseverance and dedication. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments.”

She expressed gratitude to parents for their trust in Shenmo Rwanda, stating that their children have benefited from abacus mental math, enhancing their math skills and cognitive abilities.

She explained that graduation and parent meeting were combined to educate parents about their children’s abilities in complex calculations. They realized that a trial class helped them believe in Shenmo Education Rwanda’s mental math, which can train the brain and make it realistic.

Brigitte revealed that it was the first parent meeting hosted by Shenmo Rwanda in four years, expressing gratitude for parents’ recognition and appreciation of the improvement of Rwandan children.

She said, “It’s a Shenmo Rwanda’s success in spreading the Abacus program, in Rwanda is expected to result in more children excelling in development, similar to those from China, India, and Singapore, as Abacus is popular and respected.”

She added, “With the abacus, we don’t just calculate numbers; we visualize them, transforming complex problems into simple solutions. Mental math sharpens the mind, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and learning.”

She mentioned Rwanda’s Abacus levels range from level one to level six, with the last level students currently at level four, stating that efforts are being made to increase the number of students reaching level four and those currently on to advance to the next levels.

She advised Rwandan parents to nurture their children’s potential by recognizing their talents and incorporating abacus into their education to improve concentration, focus, confidence, and math skills, as math is crucial for brain development.

“The abacus is not just a tool; it’s a gateway to a world where numbers dance in the mind’s eye. Mastering the abacus is like unlocking the hidden potential of the human brain, one bead at a time.”

She emphasized the importance of enhancing the brain’s strength to work quickly, stating that the abacus is the best choice for mental thinking, as it allows for faster and more accurate answers, highlighting the need for mental development.

Joshua Kaze, one of the graduants who received a promotion certificate, emphasized that he improved his mental calculation skills, highlighting the potential of mastering the abacus to unlock the brain’s potential, as demonstrated in Shenmo Rwanda.

He encouraged other students to participate in the Abacus program which can help improve their skills. He highlights the difference between using a calculator and Abacus, stating that mental practice strengthens the brain.

His father, Theoneste KABAYIZA, praised their children’s improved performance in Abacus, highlighting their rapid brain usage and recommending the program to other parents, thanking Shenmo Rwanda for its beneficial impact.

He said, “My children are new in Abacus, but what I see is they gained more; they are the best because they’re using their brains very fast. I am very happy about that, for sure. I can suggest other parents bring their kids because this program is very good. I thank Shenmo Rwanda for bringing this program because it’s going to help the children of Rwanda.”

Keila MUVUNYI, who also received a promotion certificate, credited the Abacus program for enhancing her speed and mindset in math, stating that understanding the subject makes it easier and less lazy than using calculators.

Her parent, Joy UMURERWA, reported significant improvement in children’s focus and critical thinking, particularly a 9-year-old girl, who has significantly improved in mental math tools through the abacus program.

She said, “I am so happy to bring the children to participate in this abacus program. I have seen a big improvement, especially for the young one who’s 9 years old; her focus has changed a lot, she is now more focused, and her critical thinking has improved in the mental math tool.”

She added, “My child improved the addition and subtraction skills, I thank all teachers, particularly Brigitte, for their efforts. She now concentrates and spends 15-20 minutes on her work, a significant improvement from her previous poor performance.”

She recommended all schools implement a mental math program, as it fosters confidence, critical thinking, and understanding of math, despite the stigma associated with it, thereby promoting a more inclusive approach to education.

A total of 36 students participated in the 2024 Shenmo Abacus Summer Camp, with 23 of them successfully completing their respective levels and receiving certificates of achievement. The remaining students were also recognized with certificates of participation. Additionally, 21 parents were in attendance to celebrate their children’s accomplishments.

This multi-school graduation celebration culminated in a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the joyous end of the summer camp. It successfully strengthened the connection between parents, students, and educators, laying a foundation for the Shenmo program’s future expansion and success of the ancient art of the abacus in Rwanda.