BCA Partners with Yohanes Surya to Encourage Aceh Children to Love Mathematics
Mathematics lessons, which delve into numbers, often become a frightening bogeyman for some students. Even mathematics teachers are frequently stereotyped as “killer” teachers feared by pupils.
Students’ dislike for numeracy-related subjects is reflected in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, which show that the reading and mathematics literacy scores of most Indonesian students remain below the OECD average. Only 25 percent of students are above the average reading literacy score, and 18 percent above the average mathematics score.
These figures highlight the urgency of early interventions to improve literacy and numeracy. It is this intervention that Bakti BCA is attempting, partnering with Yohanes Surya as the originator of the Easy, Fun, and Enjoyable (GASING) method.
Disaster-affected areas in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, became one of the targets of the “Belajar Cerdas Angka ala GASING” training organised by Bakti BCA. A total of 50 students and 10 teachers in Aceh Tamiang Regency received the training.
The training took place from 2-12 April 2026, utilising rooms at SMPN1 Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang. GASING participants in Aceh Tamiang came from SD Negeri 1 Kualasimpang, SD Negeri 2 Kualasimpang, SD Negeri 4 Kualasimpang, and SD Negeri Kota Lintang.
A student participant from SDN 2 Kualasimpang, Putri Thalita, felt the benefits of the GASING method. Previously, Putri did not like mathematics lessons. Putri avoided befriending numbers because she considered them difficult. But now Putri has made peace with numbers.
“Before joining this, I had trouble understanding mathematics, but now I like it,” said Putri when met during the training closing on Monday (13/4/2026) at SMPN1 Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang.
The same sentiment was expressed by Siti Balqis, who also participated in the training as a student from SDN 1 Kotalintang. Balqis felt difficulty when studying mathematics. However, this training made Balqis begin to weave fragments of love for mathematics lessons.
The GASING method can indeed serve as a bridge for students to love mathematics. Through the GASING method, children are invited to play and explore with teaching aids so that the concepts to be conveyed are truly felt and visualised.
“The teachers are fun and kind; during learning, we were made to sing, so the learning wasn’t boring,” said Siti, which was agreed by Putri.
One hallmark of the GASING method is that children perform quick mental calculations. During the training closing session, Republika witnessed participants answering calculation questions quickly. They were even so enthusiastic that they competed to answer faster.
Representative from Gasing Academy, Denadine Angeli, explained that the training in Aceh Tamiang ran for 10 days from 2-12 April 2026. Before the training, or in the pretest results, the average score was only 26.50. After the training, the students’ post-test score rose to 79.76. Denadine noted that the students’ speed in solving mathematics problems also improved.
“The speed of solving problems was previously over 5 minutes; after using the GASING method, it became under 5 minutes,” said Denadine.
Meanwhile, Prof Yohanes Surya explained that the GASING method essentially introduces the 8Cs, encompassing critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, computational logic, character, and compassion. Lessons on calculations are just one part of the 8Cs.
“Well, that’s actually everything we train. From there, quick calculation skills are formed. So we use quick calculation as a tool to develop those 8Cs,” said Yohanes.
Through this method, Yohanes emphasised that the main goal is to change the child’s personality. They are expected no longer to view numeracy lessons as scary.
“So actually, what we develop is the child’s personality. Their character changes. That’s why you can see their confidence emerges. That confidence and enthusiasm appear because of mental arithmetic. We train with mental arithmetic, 2 + 3, 3 + 4, 4 + 5, and so on. That’s the practice. So mathematics is a tool. But the bonus is that the children become capable,” said Yohanes.
It is known that this training was held as a manifestation of BCA’s commitment to helping the recovery of disaster-affected communities in Aceh, especially in the education sector. The training is designed as a strategic step to improve students’ calculation competencies, while also supporting the enhancement of the numeracy index in Aceh Tamiang.