May 27: Here is a great way for kids to spend their summer vacation: playing with numbers! The Magic Kids programme, which teaches mathematics with the help of the abacus, a Chinese instrument, has arrived in the city.

“The programme, which uses the abacus as the basic tool of learning, is a very effective system of teaching. It supplements the normal method of teaching arithmetic,” Anil Saraf of AB International said.

AB International is scouting for local entrepreneurs who could be appointed as franchisees.

They would be authorised to open classrooms in different parts of the city to impart lessons on the mental arithmetic programme.

“We are in talks with some entrepreneurs and hopefully we should be able to start work soon. This summer vacation will prove interesting for children who have the inclination,” he said.

The programme will gradually be introduced in other parts of the Northeast.

He said, “Magic Kids will help discover the mathematical genius in a child. In this system, numbers are counted by pushing the beads in the abacus. Any arithmetical calculation to solve problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be arrived at within seconds.”

By regularly practising this technique for a year, a child can develop the ability to solve problems mentally even without using an abacus, he added.

According to him, the programme ensures the use of both the left and right sides of the child’s brain.

This will subsequently improve the children’s overall logical, analytical and creative abilities.

Saraf said the right age for learning this method is between four and 14 years of age. It has been observed that after regular training, a child can solve some mathematical problems in just five seconds.

The company claimed that after the child masters this unique mathematical skill, it would ultimately result in improved academic performance in the school, apart from improving the child’s ability to calculate with speed and accuracy.

Saraf said the Magic Kids mental arithmetic programme is offered through eight levels across the age group of four to 14 years.

Each of these levels takes three months to complete. The entire course can be completed in a 24-month period.

The timings of the classes would be fixed in such a manner that they do not clash with the school timings.

The classes would be held once a week for two hours. Convenient timings can be chosen from all seven days of the week.

“We will ensure limited batch sizes to ensure individual attention so that the genius of mathematics can blossom in them. Tests will be conducted at each level and certificates given to the students on successful completion of the course,” he said.