KUMON EDUCATION
Education in Umhlanga

Kumon Education is the largest supplementary education provider in the world, offering maths and language study programmes to more than 4 million students of all ages and abilities. All Kumon Instructors are skilled and committed individuals with a passion for education and a strong desire to see children develop. For over 50 years, the Kumon programmes have been realising the potential of millions of children across the globe. At Kumon, we live by our philosophy that people are everything. Kumon offers maths and English worksheet based study programmes for children of all ages and abilities. More than 50 years have passed since Kumon was founded; presently, over 4 million students in 50 countries and regions are studying with the Kumon Method. The Kumon Method aims to develop the basic academic skills of reading, writing, and maths regardless of a student’s age; it is an individualised study method that enables students to become self-learners. At its foundation Kumon aims to develop basic academic skills and the positive results the Kumon Method achieves has been recognised; this is why it has been welcomed into communities around the world with widely differing cultures, values, and educational systems. His hope was that as many students as possible would be able to boost their academic skills, be successful in life, and help to build a peaceful world as a result of their study with the Kumon Method. The local communities in those areas came to view the effectiveness of these Kumon Study Centres highly. As a result, local children also began to attend Kumon. In order to serve children in these communities the Kumon maths learning materials were translated into local languages. In addition, local companies were set up in these overseas areas and a support system for local centres was established. This led to a tremendous number of enquiries from all around the United States. The following year TIME magazine also carried an article about Kumon, which led to a great number of enquiries from around the world. The Kumon Method: expanding globally and taking root in local communities The article in TIME magazine, together with other media reports, led to a growing interest in the Kumon Method around the world. Toru Kumon believed that the Kumon Method could be used to pursue the potential of students not only in maths but also in language subjects. Therefore, he directed the creation of learning materials for speakers of English that would develop students’ reading comprehension ability. Native language worksheets studied in various countries English language learning materials for native speakers are presently being used in 23 countries and regions. Chinese language learning materials for native speakers are presently being used in six countries and regions. Offering better forums for the Kumon Method of Learning Although there may be differences between countries and regions, differences in cultures and customs, and differences in values and educational systems, children's desire to study and the feelings of parents toward their children are the same all over the world. At that time, each regional headquarters increased their efforts to promote and support the Kumon Method and help it to take root in local communities. We pledged to continuously improve the ways in which the Kumon Method is offered and to contribute to local communities through our activities. In the latter half of the event Instructors and staff emphasised the importance of learning from children and seven Instructors from different regions of the world gave presentations.