1000 Students Participate In UCMAS Competition

This year’s Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) Fifth Inter-Schools National Competition to enhance their proficiency in comprehension, listening, creativity and photographic memory had about 1,000 students from 56 basic schools participating.

The competition which involved children from five to 14 years to test their speed, confidence and concentration by answering 150 arithmetic questions within eight minutes using the ‘UC Tool-Abacus’, was held in Accra.

The UCMAS programme is an initiative of UCMAS Ghana Limited, an academic facility, which goes alongside the curriculum of registered schools allowing children to do all arithmetic calculations mentally without relying on calculators and computers.

Master Precious Nkyefo Karikari of Bethel School Complex, Techiman, in the Brong-Ahafo Region, emerged winner of the Elementary A and Above listening calculation and received GH¢150 as his reward.

Samuel Kwakye Ameyaw of Valley View School, Techiman was the winner of category Basic of the listening calculation and received GH¢150.

Mr Girish Gurbani, the Director of UCMAS Ghana Ltd, said the programme gradually ensured total brain development, eradicated mathematics phobia from pupils, boosted their confidence level, enhance their listening skills, and bolstered their creativity and imagination level.

“We are confident that these students are on the pedestal of achieving enviable academic laurels and we have no doubt that many more students from Ghana will win international awards as achieved by past students of UCMAS,” he said.

The Minister of Education Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh in a speech read on his behalf urged all directors and proprietors of both public and private basic schools to embrace this important programme to enable children to reach their full potential.

Winners from other categories were also presented with trophies, certificates and medallion.

UCMAS is a global education group established in 1993 by Professor Dr Din Wong with presence in more than 62 countries.

It is also in partnership with more than 200 schools in the country running the UCMAS programme as a school curriculum activity.