UCMAS holds national contest

Master Aleses Augustus, a student of the Good Shepherd Educational Institute at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, has emerged the winner of the fifth national Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) Listening Competition.

Miss Precious Mary Brefo, a student of the CSIR Basic School in Kumasi, came second, while Master Kobena Asamoah of the Crown Prince Academy in Accra placed third.

The programme, held at the Burma Hall at the Burma Camp in Accra, brought together about 500 children who competed for the top honours.

For his prize, Master Augustus will receive GH¢150 and also have the opportunity to compete at the international event in Malaysia. 

The General Manager of the UCMAS Ghana Limited, Mr Awinnasa Gwalani, said the programme developed the brains of the children during their formative years, which is from five to 14 years.

“It is our aim to eradicate the fear of Mathematics from all Ghanaian children; boost their confidence, enhance their listening skills, and improve their creativity,” he said. 

The School’s Co-ordinator for UCMAS Ghana Limited, Mr Daniel Matey Tetteh, said the children were made to answer 100 arithmetic questions within eight minutes which was to test their speed, confidence, concentration, listening and comprehension skills, as well as photographic memory within the period of their training.

 Mr Nicholas Adjetey, a parent, urged parents to enrol their children in the UCMAS classes and monitor them while they practised.

Master Augustus told the Junior Graphic that he was surprised at his achievement because that was the first time he had taken part in that high-level competition.

For her part, Miss Brefo thanked God for seeing her through the competition since, “others at higher levels than me were evicted before the final six.”