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Thursday, May 10, 2012

Parents have direct impact on children's intelligence, expert says


In today’s ever-evolving education world, what schools your children go to matter little. Instead, it is the attention and effort of the children’s parents that could have a more direct impact on the youngsters’ intelligence.


“Parents may be able to send their children to the best schools, but that is useless if they can’t be there for their children at home. It is not the school that defines a child's intelligence,” said Henry Tenedero, an education reform advocate.

Tenedero, concurrently the board director of the Executive Council of the International Learning Styles Network, is one of the speakers in the upcoming “Kumon Philippines Education and Parenting Seminar (KPEPS)” on May 19 at the SM North EDSA.

In the learning process, the role of the parents to guide their children as they progress in school and in life is crucial, Tenedero said.

This is where Kumon, as supplementary education, comes in. That’s because learning does not stop in school, he said, especially nowadays where learners face more sophisticated means of learning than ever before.


With the theme “Achievers of Today, Ready for the Future!,” the seminar is set to share with parents the current scenario of the country’s education and how Kumon fits in the picture with the impending implementation of the Department of Education’s K-to-12 system.

Kumon, since opening its doors in the country in 1996, has grown to 230 centers nationwide, with more than 46,000 students. [Those figures, while impressive, are dwarfed by Japan’s 1.4 million Kumon students in over 16,000 centers.]

“Every child has the potential to become an achiever. But that potential may expire if not uncovered in time,” said Susie Tsoi, a Kumon instructor of more than 10 years, who will also speak at the KPEPS 2012.

In her talk “Kumon: Every Child, an Achiever,” Tsoi will give parents helpful tips on how they can effectively guide their children in facing the current challenges in the educational system. She will also share real stories on how parents play an important role in helping their children succeed in school and in life.

Understanding the child is integral in Kumon’s teaching method because it’s all about understanding and respecting each child’s need. "We’d like children to have dreams and Kumon is there to give them the confidence to pursue those dreams."

As for amending Kumon programs in lieu of the K-to-12 educational system that is to be implemented for the first time in the country this coming school year, Tsoi said there really is no need for any major revamp as Kumon lessons are already patterned after countries that have been implementing the K-to-12 system for years.

She said: “Kumon is not a quick-fix solution. It is part of long term learning for children. Once the children know how to learn on their own, they’ll no doubt go a long way.”

KPEPS 2012 is free of admission. To register, email complete name, mobile number, and address to parentingseminar@kumon.ph or call 885-0226.

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