The kUmOn meThOd

C A n He L p C LO se C A n AD i A n s tu D ent eD u CAti O n G A p

it isn’t uncommon for 10th grade students to enter krishnan venkatraman’s kumon centre in Ontario not knowing how to add without using their fingers.

They are not isolated incidents, either – it’s becoming more common.

“There’s a fundamental flaw with what’s going on with the school systems,” he said. “But it’s not insurmountable. Kumon’s instruction can help fill in that gap. We’ve seen the success of it in so many students.”

Following the latest testing data released by school districts across canada, an education divide is becoming more evident as students fall further behind and are promoted to subsequent grade levels. The public school systems’ resources are too strained to close the gap alone. alberta, Ontario and nova scotia are just several of the provinces that have posted double-digit testing declines in the last year in math and reading, similar to schools in the U.s “eQaO (education Quality and accountability Office) data show that Ontario’s student outcomes are similar to those of other jurisdictions, where the pandemic has had a more significant impact on mathematics than on literacy achievement,” the testing body said in a news release. But test scores in both areas had been on the decline, even before the onset of the pandemic.

Ontario’s government has even issued payments, $365 million worth, to parents to help with additional tutoring to make up for lost classroom time. Parents with school-aged children up to 18 years old can receive $200 to $250 per child, depending on several factors.

“i t created huge problems that i don’t think the education leaders are equipped to respond to efficiently because it’s such a big industry. i t’s union-tied,” said France Grandmont, a Kumon i nstructor in Quebec. “They can’t say, ‘OK, let’s focus on the important subjects for two years to try to catch up and try to put everything aside.’”

The issues are too complex for a simple solution, she added.

While the pandemic certainly exasperated an already growing education gap, it wasn’t the lone cause. This is something Venkatraman and Grandmont have witnessed over years prior to the outbreak. i n 2016, a high school junior came to Venkatraman’s Kumon centre and asked for help getting into a university. The student had dreams of becoming an engineer, but one obstacle stood in the way – he tested at a grade two level in math.

With less than two years until graduation, Venkatraman created a customized learning plan to catch him up. i t wasn’t an ideal situation, and one he wouldn’t normally recommend. But he didn’t want to turn the student away.

“so, i created this very, very aggressive program, which required him to study for at least two hours a day,” Venkatraman said. “There was no escaping it. he had to essentially catch up from grade three to grade 12. i don’t recommend that for anybody, but this is what he wanted to do.” now, Grandmont has noticed that while the gap also persists in Quebec, she’s also noticed a growing divide between strong students and those with learning challenges.

This spring, the student will graduate with his engineering degree. But to Venkatraman, the situation was emblematic of a growing problem in the educational system – an ever-widening educational gap.

“Too many children are moved along from one grade to the next without addressing very, very large educational gaps,” Venkatraman said.

While many are quick to point a finger at the pandemic, Venkatraman said the educational gap was there before the shutdowns. i t just wasn’t as noticeable.

“i think the pandemic just amplified this,” said Grandmont, who also worked as an elementary teacher before becoming a Kumon i nstructor. “i t’s like, we’re really seeing what is going on and what’s wrong with the education system the same way we saw with the health system. i t just blew up in our faces.” i n talking with students in the public school system, Grandmont has seen a rush in the classrooms to catch up to where students should be versus where they actually are in their studies. i t creates more pressure and anxiety for the student, which isn’t conducive to learning.

“They’re really trying to catch up,” she said of those with challenges. “and so, they’re going through concepts at an accelerated rate, which is very detrimental for any kid that needs more explaining, more practice, more explanations and more help. students coming into her Kumon centre come in more relaxed because they aren’t being rushed through assignments. They can focus on building and mastering skills at their own pace, despite the push of many parents seeking her services to help keep them on pace and at or above grade level.

The Kumon Method that she and Venkatraman teach is a tried-and-true method that can help students close educational gaps and master skills that they might not otherwise be able to do in a traditional classroom setting. But it does take time and isn’t something that happens overnight.

“i always have to tell them, you bought into a slow cooker,” Grandmont said. “Let’s not try to do a stir fry. i t doesn’t work.”