Abacus adds up to 'smarter kids'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Using a sempoa (abacus) -- the traditional
\nChinese calculator -- to solve arithmetic problems can exercise
\nand develop the right side of a child's brain, an expert said.<\/p>\n
A healthy brain can \"optimize\" a person's memory capabilities,
\nlogic and analytical skills, imagination, perception, discipline,
\nidea generation, independence, listening comprehension and their
\ndegree of tolerance and understanding, the chairman of Indonesian
\nArithmetic Foundation, Thomas W. Ramelan, said recently.<\/p>\n
Although Thomas had no medical studies to back up his remarks,
\nhis point was made during a demonstration Sunday by students who
\nhave used the abacus since an early age.<\/p>\n
Participants from Malaysia and Taiwan stunned the audience at
\nManggala Wanabhakti building in Central Jakarta with their
\namazing counting skills.<\/p>\n
Taiwanese Lee Chieh, 7, correctly answered six difficult
\narithmetic questions -- involving addition, subtraction, division
\nand multiplication of 12 digit numbers -- in just 26 seconds.<\/p>\n
Malaysian students San Junn, Nabil, Diyana and Atika also
\nanswered a question involving the addition of 15 digits in just
\none second.<\/p>\n
Nine-year-old Nabil said that doing arithmetic using the
\nabacus was fun and he had been \"learning it since the age of
\nthree\".<\/p>\n
The demonstration was held during the 13th International
\nAbacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition which involved 600
\nstudents aged between six and 12.<\/p>\n
In his opening speech, Minister of Education and Culture
\nWardiman Djojonegoro agreed that the abacus was a helpful medium
\nfor children to learn math.<\/p>\n
\"The abacus has been used for hundreds of years to help
\nchildren think faster, more accurately and analytically.\"<\/p>\n
But the abacus will not be included in the Indonesian
\ncurriculum as it \"would burden the existing curriculum set for
\nstudents\", Wardiman said.<\/p>\n
Mental arithmetic was first introduced in Indonesia at the end
\nof 1995 due to its popularity in the region.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Arithmetic Foundation has established 82
\nbranches with more than 10,000 students throughout Jakarta's five
\nmayoralties and other cities in Indonesia, including Semarang,
\nBandung, Palembang, Denpasar, Medan, Tegal, Surabaya, Bogor,
\nBatam, Solo and Ujungpandang.<\/p>\n
Every branch meets international standards set by the
\nInternational Abacus Association and Indonesian Arithmetics
\nFoundation. It costs Rp 220,000 for a three-month course.<\/p>\n
\"Most parents don't believe that children can have such
\nabilities. The learning process itself is meant to stimulate
\nlogic, creativity and analytical ability,\" Thomas said.<\/p>\n
The goal of this program is to make Indonesian people
\n\"smarter\".<\/p>\n
\"We start them at an early age because children aged between 6
\nand 12 are easy to teach,\" he said. \"I want the next generation
\nto be smarter and tougher.\"<\/p>\n
During the international contest Sunday, children from China,
\nJapan, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, the United States, Taiwan,
\nSouth Korea and host country Indonesia vied for the fastest time
\nto solve arithmetic problems using formulas and the abacus.<\/p>\n
Participants in the annual contest were selected from 10,000
\napplicants.<\/p>\n
They underwent a series of screen tests held in early November
\nand Indonesia topped the eligibility list, accounting for 480 of
\nthe 600 participants.<\/p>\n
During Sunday's contest, each student took part in a 10-minute
\nmental arithmetic test before the 20-minute sempoa contest.<\/p>\n
Maria Fransisca from the South Sumatra capital of Palembang
\nand Andreas Budirahardja from Jakarta won the abacus contest.<\/p>\n
Syed Nabil Shahabudin from Malaysia and Lee Chieh from Taiwan
\ngrabbed the grand prizes.<\/p>\n
The winners were each awarded a trophy and a certificate.<\/p>\n
The event was jointly organized by the Taiwan-based
\nInternational Abacus Association (IAA) and Indonesian Arithmetic
\nFoundation.<\/p>\n
Thomas said the competition is held every year to raise
\nparents', teachers' and students' awareness of the importance of
\nstudying arithmetic.<\/p>\n
Indonesia joined IAA two years ago. (edt)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abacus-adds-up-to-smarter-kids-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }