Category : News

Kumon comes to Cranbourne West, VIC

Preethi Ranjith Kumar, Instructor of Kumon Cranbourne West Education Centre, with one of her students

Kumon is now available in Cranbourne West, in Melbourne’s outer south east, to help all local children develop confidence in the basics of mathematics and reading.

Kumon Cranbourne West Education Centre is led by Preethi Ranjith Kumar, who also owns and operates the nearby Kumon centre in Cranbourne North. Preethi became a Kumon Instructor after seeing the success of the programme in her own son. She hopes to facilitate the learning of even more children through Kumon.

“I intend to spread Kumon in the Casey community, and give more opportunities to children to experience success through our method of learning,” Preethi says.

“I look forward to working closely with students and their families to achieve their educational goals and create a positive, enriching environment where learning is both effective and enjoyable.”

Kumon Cranbourne West Education Centre is located at Cranbourne West Community Hub,
4 Flicka Boulevard, Cranbourne West, VIC 3977. Classes operate on Thursday and Friday afternoons from 4pm to 7pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9am to 11am.

To learn more or enrol at Kumon Cranbourne West, please contact the centre directly via: https://www.kumonsearch.com.au/Centre/Kumon-Cranbourne-West-VIC#info   

Riana builds confidence, self-discipline, calculation and reading skills through Kumon

Riana, nine years old, with medals recognising her achievements both in Kumon and gymnastics

Through her dedicated study of Kumon, nine-year-old Riana is developing essential calculation and reading skills that will serve her throughout school and in her later life.

Riana, who is in Year 3 at school, studies both Kumon Mathematics and English more than two years ahead of her school grade level. This has boosted Riana’s confidence and enhanced her schooling experience.

“Kumon has helped me perform better in school,” Riana says. “I’m also part of the Student Representatives Council, where I can share my ideas clearly with my class and principal. I am able to communicate effectively and have developed a very good vocabulary.”

“I have also received a Presentation Day award every year for my good performance at school.”

Riana also competes in state-level gymnastics, recently winning two silver medals, and is a keen tennis player. She says the confidence and self-discipline she has developed through Kumon help her in sports as well.

“Kumon has taught me the power of practice and discipline. It has also given me a lot of confidence to perform better in gymnastics and other sports,” Riana says.

Riana aspires to represent Australia in gymnastics when she grows up and hopes to become a doctor. She is confident that the skills she is learning in Kumon will benefit her for a lifetime.

“Kumon has helped me build a strong foundation in English and maths, which will help me learn difficult concepts more easily later on,” Riana says. “It has also helped me develop the habit of practising daily.”

Richa, Riana’s mother, says they enrolled their daughter in Kumon because of the program’s focus on consistently developing mathematics and English skills.

“We wanted Riana to experience a structured and consistent form of learning, where she could progressively build foundations in her studies and, at the same time, pursue her passion for gymnastics,” Richa says. “Kumon has helped her build a wide range of skills, and Riana has improved in both English and maths.”

Rahul, Riana’s father, says the benefits of Kumon extend beyond school.

“Kumon teaches Riana a lot of important lessons, such as the power of self-discipline, daily practice, confidence, and consistency,” Rahul says. “She’s gaining all these attributes by completing her Kumon worksheets every day.”

“This creates a mental habit in your brain; the practices or habits you form in one area, like study, are applied in other areas as well. I can see this reflected in Riana’s performance in gymnastics and tennis.”

Meet the new Instructor of Kumon Wheelers Hill Education Centre

Michael Susanto, the new Instructor of Kumon Wheelers Hill Education Centre

Kumon Wheelers Hill Education Centre, in Melbourne’s south-east, is now operating under the guidance of a new Instructor, Michael Susanto.

Michael’s journey with Kumon started as a student, when he completed the Mathematics programme by Year 6 of primary school. He then worked as centre assistant at the Kumon centre in Glen Waverley while completing university, before starting his career at Kumon Australia and New Zealand. While there, here he worked as a field development consultant and section leader in the Melbourne branch for nearly eight years, working closely with other Kumon Instructors to develop their centres.

Now, Michael is taking the reins of Kumon Wheelers Hill.

“I chose to take over this centre because it’s close to home, situated in a community that values education, and surrounded by excellent schools”, Michael says. “This environment perfectly aligns with my goal of fostering a love for learning and academic success in every child.”

Kumon Wheelers Hill has also relocated to Wheelers Hill Shopping Centre, Suite 41A/190-200 Jells Road, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150. Classes operate on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30pm to 6:45pm, and on Friday afternoons from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

Michael is confident that his centre will help local students to thrive academically.

“Drawing from my extensive experience at Kumon, I am deeply committed to nurturing, guiding, and supporting young learners in the Wheelers Hill community”, Michael says.

“My goal is to help them build a strong foundation in their studies, empowering them with essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and discipline.”

“By mastering these foundational skills, students will not only excel academically but also develop the confidence and resilience needed to face challenges in life. I am dedicated to fostering an environment where every child can reach their full potential and achieve success in both their education and their future endeavours.”

To learn more or enrol a Kumon Wheelers Hill, please contact the centre at: https://www.kumonsearch.com.au/Centre/Kumon-Wheelers-Hill-VIC#info

Kumon helps Mehar excel in national academic competition

Mehar, with her medal from Tournament of Minds.

With the support of Kumon, 12-year-old Mehar developed the essential writing skills that she used to excel in the Tournament of Minds.

The Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years, by developing skills such as self-discipline, time management, creative problem solving, and the ability to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.

Mehar recently was part of a winning team of most recent International Tournament in Sydney, where her team achieved first place among the Tasmanian teams in the category of language and literature, as well as the Spirit of TOM award. Mehar says she used her writing skills, developed in Kumon English, in the Tournament.

“I do both English and Maths in Kumon,” Mehar explains. “I was also one of the main script writers for my team in the Tournament. Kumon English helped me with my spelling and my grammar, and also with refining and using a broader vocabulary in my sentences.”

Kumon English builds a high level of reading comprehension ability. To inspire students to read widely, the worksheets contain more extracts from published texts than any other reading programme in the world. They are arranged in order of increasing difficulty, from the simplest to the most complex.

Mehar says that her studies at Kumon are helping her in school, both in mathematics and English.

“I’m going to be starting high school next year, so the maths I’m learning in Kumon right now will help me with my studies later on,” Mehar says. “Kumon has helped me develop my focus, and it also helps me to be more self-disciplined because I know that I have to do it every day.”

Mehar aims to become a paediatrician or lawyer when she grows up, and says that she will continue to use the skills she acquired in Kumon later in life.

Gagan, Mehar’s mother, says she enrolled her daughter into Kumon after witnessing her natural aptitude for mathematics and so wanted to extend her ability. Gagan says Kumon has helped her daughter to improve, both in maths and other areas.

“With Kumon, we have seen Mehar’s grades improving in school. In the last term I have seen her go above her grade in maths at school”, Gagan explains. “Outside of school she’s also more confident now. She never hesitates in asking any questions.”

Harry builds a bedrock for academic success with Kumon

Harry, with the awards he achieved over the course of his Kumon study

Through dedicated study of Kumon Mathematics and English, 11-year-old Harry has developed the essential skills that will help him to thrive in one of Western Australia’s top schools.

Harry, who is now in Year 6, recently achieved entry into WA’s only academically-selective school, through achieving a top 1 percent result in the 2024 Gifted and Talented Selective Entry Cohort (GATE) – a state government initiative that provides the opportunity for students who excel academically to be extended in school.

Harry was enrolled both Kumon’s Mathematics and English programmes at four-and-a-half years old. He has since completed English and is studying more than five years ahead of his school grade in Kumon Mathematics. Harry says the skills he learned at Kumon have been critical for his academic trajectory.

“The many core subjects in Kumon such as reading comprehension and maths has helped me understand subjects better and apply my knowledge easier in school”, Harry says.

“The different skills that I learned in Kumon have led me to achieve many great things in my life, such as my top 1 percent of the 2024 GATE cohort, which secured me a place for [selective school].”

Harry is also confident that learning with Kumon will continue to benefit him throughout his life, beyond school.

“The skills I learnt in Kumon, such as reading comprehension and basic mathematics concepts, will help me apply my knowledge wherever I go”, Harry says. “Kumon has taught me self-discipline as I have to practise every day, which will be helpful later in life when I enter university and the workforce”.

When he is older, Harry is hoping to work at his local Kumon centre as an assistant. Later down the track, he hopes to be the first human to land on Mars.

Mathumai, Harry’s mother, says she enrolled her son into Kumon to give him a head start on his education. She says the basic skills he was taught at Kumon from an early age formed the bedrock for his current academic success.

“I sent Harry to Kumon when he was young”, Mathumai says. “His Instructors Melissa Yeoh and Kheng Wee had the patience to sit with him, introduce the basic skills of writing, drawing lines and identifying numbers.”

“It’s very special for us to consider where he started and where he has reached within a span of six years, and how he has turned into this amazing child.”

Is Kumon different from tutoring?

As an after-school mathematics and English education programme for school-aged children, Kumon is often categorised as tuition. However, Kumon differs from the services provided by your local tutor in some fundamental ways.

In this article, we explore the differences between Kumon and tuition, and explain how both services play different roles in supporting your child’s education.

What does Kumon offer?

Kumon is an individualised programme that focuses on the development of calculation and reading comprehension ability. It develops students’ ability to self-learn through the study of mathematics and English worksheets.

Kumon is also a partnership between parent, student and Kumon Instructor, to fully pursue each child’s potential and develop their ability to the maximum. Students progress independently at their own pace. They develop confidence, a daily study habit, and a high level of mathematics and reading ability.

Kumon has been operating in Australia for 40 years, since 1984. Over the course of these four decades, over one million children have relied on Kumon to seek help with maths and reading, while developing fundamental skills.

What do tutors offer?

The offerings of tutors in Australia and New Zealand vary widely, depending on the needs of the child. Some parents turn to tutoring once they realise their child is struggling in a particular subject or area of learning. In other situations, children are tutored to prepare for specific tests, such as NAPLAN or selective school entry exam As an after-school mathematics and English education programme for school-aged children, Kumon is often categorised as tuition. However, Kumon differs from the services provided by your local tutor in some fundamental ways.

In this article, we explore the differences between Kumon and tuition, and explain how both services play different roles in supporting your child’s education.

s, or they receive tutoring catered towards the curriculum of a specific subject in school.

In most circumstances, parents turn to tutoring to address an immediate challenge or concern relating to their child’s learning. In the case of students with learning difficulties or students who need to be extended in order to stay engaged, tutoring can be a long-term endeavour.

When should you consider Kumon?

If you are searching for a long-term programme that develops fundamental calculation and reading skills, while boosting confidence and self-learning skills, then Kumon is a good fit for your child. If your child is already in school, we help fill in any gaps in mathematics and English, and then extend your child to study at their own pace once they are ready. For preschoolers, we have worksheets especially tailored to prepare children for school and a lifetime of learning.

In summary, if you want to invest in your child’s education by providing them with a long-term programme that develops skills that they will use for life, then Kumon is a great fit.

When should you consider tutoring?

In our experience, tutoring is best suited for students who have a short-term academic goal to achieve – such as preparing for an examination. Tutors are able to tailor their offerings towards these very specific goals, whereas the Kumon Mathematics and English programmes follow their own curricula.

What is the difference between Kumon and tutoring?

There are some key differences between Kumon and tutoring. Kumon is an individualised programme that has been established globally for over 66 years. It focuses on the development of fundamental mathematics and reading skills, along with confidence, strong study habits and self-learning skills. Kumon has been in Australia for over 40 years, benefiting over 1 million students.

Tutors vary widely in their offering and experience. While some tutors may adopt a long-term approach, many tutors focus on the attainment of short-term academic goals. Furthermore, tutors are likely to rely on their own teaching methods to guide and develop the student.

To learn more about how Kumon can help your child develop confidence in the basics of mathematics and reading, please contact your nearest centre via: https://www.kumonsearch.com.au/

Kumon partners with Creator Academy in Sydney

Kumon is proud to a announce a new partnership with Creator Academy, a provider of robotics education for school-aged children in Sydney.

This collaboration is aimed to help students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for academic success. As Kumon and Creator Academy both place great emphasis on the development of these skills, this partnership is a natural fit.

“At Kumon, students build essential skills in mathematics and English while developing a mindset that no problem is too difficult to attempt”, said Steven Sou, Division Leader of Kumon NSW.

“We are confident our sponsorship of Creator Academy will help even more young learners pursue their potential for solving problems, while embracing challenges and enjoying learning.”

Garry Law, owner of Creator Academy, says he looks forward to see benefits arising from this partnership for students.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kumon, an institution that shares our commitment to nurturing young minds,” he said. “This sponsorship is a testament to the value we both place on education, and we’re excited about the new opportunities it will bring for our students to excel in robotics.”

To learn more about this partnership, please contact Kumon via our enquiry form: https://au.kumonglobal.com/contact-us/general-enquiry/

Kumon continues supporting Victoria’s young scientists

Kumon Australia and New Zealand will continue its investment in the next generation of Victoria’s scientists for the remainder of 2024, through sponsoring the Science Talent Search.

The Science Talent Search (STS) is an annual competition organised by the Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria. The competition aims to encourage school students in the pursuit of science studies and hopes to give the next generation of youths an opportunity to communicate their achievements, and be recognised for excellence in science.

Kumon is contributing over $10,000 to the competition’s student bursary winning prizes. Scott Quilty, Division Leader of Kumon Victoria, says he is proud of Kumon’s ongoing support for science.

“We look forward to continuing supporting Victoria’s future scientists and wish all students participating in the Science Talent Search best of luck in their scientific endeavours,” he said.

Should you wish to learn more about this sponsorship, please contact Kumon via our enquiry form.

Confidence in the basics prepares Shrisha for high school and beyond

Shrisha, during her time with Kumon and now as she studies in high school

For Shrisha, 14 years old, study of the Kumon Mathematics and English programmes from an early age built a strong foundation for her to excel in high school and beyond.

Shrisha, who is in Year 8 of high school, was enrolled in Kumon Mathematics and English in 2014, at the age of four. She continued studying both programmes until 2017, by which time she was seven years of age. Shrisha says this early head start gave her confidence in the basics of mathematics and reading.

“I really liked how Kumon broke down all the concepts into smaller and more manageable steps, which helped me build a solid base from an early age”, Shrisha explains. “I gradually developed my number skills and problem-solving abilities, and that’s also continued to develop since I’ve joined school as well.”

“For English, I think Kumon helped me improve my reading and writing a lot. It gave me a pretty strong foundation for when I joined school in prep”.

Shrisha also says that her overall attitude towards learning was shaped by Kumon, while also helping her develop essential skills in time-management, confidence, and self-discipline.

“I found that working through the Kumon worksheets has helped me understand tricky concepts more easily, and the steady practise has made me more confident”, Shrisha says.

“I also think the routine and the discipline I’ve developed from Kumon has helped me manage my time better and stay on top of my schoolwork. It feels good to see my progress and to know that I’m capable of tackling challenges on my own.”

“I think it’s given me a sense of accomplishment and a better mindset for handling my studies.”

Shrisha aims to pursue a career in science or medicine when she grows up. Through Kumon, Shrisha has a strong foundation in mathematics and reading, which she says will be essential for her future.

“I want to enter the medical or scientific fields because I’m really passionate about STEM and I’m deeply involved in science related activities at school”, Shrisha says. “However, I also do recognise how important the strong foundation in maths and English is for achieving my goals.”

“My early experiences with Kumon helped me develop a solid base for both subjects, which is crucial for understanding complex scientific concepts and effectively communicating research findings”, she says.

“In medical or scientific research, I think precise mathematical skills are essential for analysing data and drawing accurate conclusions, while strong English skills are important for writing reports and presenting findings clearly.”

“I’m excited to use the skills that I’ve built to contribute to meaningful advancements in science and health.”

Sahana, Shrisha’s mother, says she chose Kumon for her daughter, because in addition to building foundational skills in mathematics and reading, Kumon nurtured students to become problem-solvers and critical thinkers.

“Kumon actually instilled self-discipline and a regular study routine, which built up a solid foundation in her in terms of enhancing her critical thinking and problem-solving skills for more advanced concepts taught in school”, Sahana says.

“Shrisha was more willing to participate and take on challenges in the classroom, doing the worksheets within the stipulated time and overcoming challenges in terms of difficulty when she did the higher levels. It has helped her excel in other competitive exams such as ICAS, scholarship and selective entry exams.”

“She faced all the challenges with a positive and determined mindset.”

Shrisha recently received an offer to join one of the top selective schools in Melbourne from Year 9, based on her selective entrance results in July 2024. She also received gold medals in Victoria for ICAS Spelling in Years 2, 3, 5 and 6, in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Shrisha is a keen debater and public speaker, and frequently represents her school in a range of competitions.

Meet the new Instructor of Kumon Greenacres Education Centre

Felicia Ng, the new Instructor of Kumon Greenacres Education Centre

Kumon Greenacres Education Centre, located in Adelaide’s northeast, is now operating under the guidance of a new Instructor, Felicia Ng.

Pivoting from a career in accounts and finance, and staff training and development, Felicia is now pursuing her passion for education as a Kumon Instructor. She is looking forward to supporting all her students to develop fundamental skills in mathematics and reading.

“The Kumon Method, with its focus on self-learning and building fundamental skills, aligns perfectly with my educational philosophy”, Felicia says. “I am passionate about providing students with the tools they need to excel academically and develop a love for learning.”

Kumon Greenacres Education Centre is located at Greenacres Shopping Centre (Next door to Aust Post), Shop 17, 132 Mueller Road, Greenacres, SA 5086. Classes run Monday to Thursday from 4:15pm to 6:15pm.

Felicia says she is excited about the future and looks forward to welcoming many new students to the centre.

“My commitment to providing a high-quality learning experience is matched by my enthusiasm for engaging with families and supporting their children’s academic journey,” Felicia says.

“I look forward to working closely with students and their families to achieve their educational goals and create a positive, enriching environment where learning is both effective and enjoyable. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this inspiring educational mission.”

To learn more about Kumon Greenacres or to enrol, please contact the centre directly: https://www.kumonsearch.com.au/Centre/Kumon-Greenacres-SA#info