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200 questions, eight minutes, one winner

Mathematics may not have sounded fun for many students in schools. But, thanks to Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS), students have found a new joy in solving math problems.

Children as young as four years were frantically moving the beads of an abacus to find answers to math questions at a competition organised by UCMAS UAE.

Some children might have easily given the impression of snapping in air but for very patterned and lucid finger and thumb movements, the older lot seemed to derive answers to complex problems with their calculating prowess.

The 1,400 students of UCMAS UAE were attempting to solve 200 questions in eight minutes. “The speed, accuracy and mathematical skills of the participating students are simply unbelievable. It is amazing to see how deft the young ones are with the abacus and how quick the older children are at solving complex problems through mental math. I am truly impressed,” said Y. Raj, principal, St Mary’s Catholic High School, Fujairah

Malaysia-based UCMAS is an international organisation which is active in 41 countries as more than one million registered students participate in various math activities.

“Parents need to explore child development activities that proactively engage the kids in creative and fruitful pursuits. The mental math-based child development programme can lay a good foundation for proficiency in mathematics as proven by the kids here,” said Mahasen Sa’adeh principal, New World Private School. It would be a good idea to include such programmes as part of school activities.

Elaborating on the method, Soundari Raj, managing director of UCMAS UAE, said: “Abacus, the ancient Chinese calculator, has made a comeback as a strong education tool for enhancing mental ability in children. Basically, children are taught to picture the abacus in their minds. The figures that are to be calculated are visualised as beads on the abacus as opposed to numerals.

This technique is effective in performing basic arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, said Raj. “Our fastest children can mentally add 10 columns of 12 digit numbers within 30 seconds. Normally, you won’t be able to even read the numbers in one minute.”

Winners of the regional competition will represent the UAE and compete with 5,000 selected students from all around the world.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com