The final of the Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) Inter-Schools competition has been held in Accra with pupils from Basic Schools all over Ghana displaying dexterity in mental arithmetic.

This was the 3rd National Inter-Schools Abacus and Mental Arithmetic competition which had over 800 pupils from 25 different schools participating.

All 800 participants were made to answer 150 questions in just 8 minutes to select the winners for the various levels. 

The winners were presented with trophies, various sums of money and products from Indomie, who were main sponsors of the competition.

Speaking at the competition, Director of UCMAS Ghana, Girish Gurbani said it was important to develop the mental capacity of children because they are the leaders of the next generation.

He said the future success of Ghana depends on them and therefore necessary to equip adequately.

Mr. Gurbani touched on how quickly technology was changing the world, explaining that at the current pace of technological advancement, it was crucial that the children were adequately trained in their formative age through techniques such UCMAS, in order to cope with the speed of technological advancement. 

He therefore urged parents to allow their children to be trained on the UCMAS techniques and also to participate in such competitions.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of Ghana Education Service, Mrs. Felicia Boakye-Yiadom who was the Guest Speaker, said UCMAS helps to discover geniuses at their formative years and afforded many children the opportunity to show their arithmetic skills.

She said it helped to develop and expand the mental capacity of the children as well as other aspects of their brain. 

GES Regional Director said the training received through UCMAS and the various associated competitions also develops the power of concentration, imagination and other critical thinking skills that the children need to grow.

She said after participating in such competitions, the pupils’ confidence and memory skills are enhanced.

She therefore urged the District Directors of Education as well as Heads of Schools to welcome UCMAS in their schools.

On his part, the Brands Manager of De United Foods Industries, producers of Indomie Noodles, Shine Akiem Torsoo, said the company will continue to support the various UCMAS programmes, because of the invaluable skills that pupils acquire from it.

He said the welfare and development of children was dear to the company and will therefore continue to support any programme that sought to champion the cause of children.

UCMAS is an educational group, which engages in the holistic training of the right brain of children using special techniques that enables pupils to do arithmetic calculations mentally within a matter of seconds. It was first introduced in Ghana in 2007 although it started in 1993 in Malaysia.