A Laerskool Helderkruin Grade 1 learner, Arno de Beer, is just like any seven-year old in the community. He plays cricket for his school, Laerskool Helderkruin, and Roodepoort Sports Club. But what sets him apart from his peers is that he does not need his fingers to do calculations that would stump most in his grade.
Arno has Abacus Maths in Horison to thank for nurturing his ability with numbers, which has seen him represent the province and country in prestigious competitions. Arno’s parents, Anneline and Conraad de Beer, registered him to Abacus Maths when he was four years old and he took to it like a duck to water.
“He was still in crèche and we wanted him to do it as an extra-mural activity. In his first competition he won a champion trophy. His understanding of maths is so advanced compared to his peers and so far ahead of the curriculum that he takes Abacus Maths books to school to do the calculations in class. It has also helped with his reading at school,” said the parents.
Arno will be participating in the Global Association of Japanese Soroban Mental Arithmetic (GAJSMA) competition in Thailand next month. He qualified for the event by excelling at the Abacus Maths Soroban Association of South Africa’s national competition hosted at Hoërskool Roodepoort.
“I’m really nervous and excited about going to Thailand. I am counting down the days until we get there so I can compete and win. Winning the trophy is what I’m looking forward to the most,’ said Arno.
In 2015, Abacus sent three students to a competition in India. The following year 40 Abacus students went to Singapore. This year, 60 students will be going to Thailand. One of the Abacus tutors, Quinnette Brits, is extremely pleased with their students’ progress.
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