Precious Karikari wins UCMAS National Contest

By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
Accra, April 24, GNA - Master Precious Nkyefo Karikari, an eight-year-old-pupil of the Bethel School Complex at Techiman, Brong Ahafo Region, is the overall winner of the National Inter-Schools - Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) Competition.

The fourth edition of the Listening and Calculation contest, was held at Burma Camp, in Accra, for more than 800 pupils from 73 schools.

All the participants were made to answer 150 questions in eight minutes, using the U C tool - Abacus.

For his reward, Master Karikari received GH¢200.00, while Master Kofi Agyei of Mount Olivet School in Kumasi; and Master Sedem Bonsi of Ladlink School at Kaneshie, Accra; got GH¢100.00 and GH¢50.00, respectively, as the second and third place winners.

It was all excitement and cheers from the teachers, when Master Karikari again took the first position in the Seven-years plus Elementary Category, for which he was presented with a trophy, a certificate and products from the manufacturer of Indomie noodles.

Winners from other categories were also presented with trophies, certificates and products from the same sponsor.

Dr Stephen Adu, the Acting Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, (GES) commended the UCMAS Group for their efforts to gradually eradicate the 'Maths phobia' from Ghanaian children.

The programme, he said, was also to boost their confidence level, enhance their listening skills, and bolster their creativity and imagination levels.

Dr Adu, who is also the Director of Basic Education at the GES, therefore, urged the directors and proprietors of basic schools - both public and private - to embrace the UCMAS programme to enable children to reach their full potentials for national development.

Mr Girish Gurbani, the Director, UCMAS Ghana Ltd, said the programme tended to develop the capacity of the right brain of children in their formative years - from five years to 14 years.

The benefits of the programme, he said, were improved photographic memory, improved listening, concentration, imagination skills, outstanding creativity, speed and accuracy, fantastic Arithmetic Skills and all round academic proficiency.

'We are confident that these students are on the pedestal of achieving enviable academic laurels and we have no doubt that many more students from Ghana will win international laurels as have been achieved by Kobena Asamoah Amoah in 2012, Maame Serwaa Nkrumah in 2013 and Elizabeth Amihere in 2015,' he said.

GNA