Small Abacus, Big Dream
The University of Rwanda hosted a mental math competition utilising an abacus in a lecture hall equipped with multimedia technology on 25 May. The teacher promptly presented the students with a lengthy mathematical formula comprising addition and subtraction. As the children listened, they made a few hand gestures and then promptly recorded their answers on the provided boards.
This demonstration of rapid and precise calculation was met with a round of applause from the audience. The competition, which saw 262 students in attendance, was organised by the Shenmo School of Rwanda, led by Jean-Pierre Muhoza.
Sophisticated technique
Abacus calculation is an ancient technique that originated in China. The abacus is used as a tool for performing a range of mathematical operations. This method, with a history of over 1,800 years, is now listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Mental abacus calculation, derived from abacus calculation, is a sophisticated calculation technique. The method involves visualising an abacus and the process of operation in the mind, and then performing the calculations mentally using imagination, perception, and memory. Once these skills have been acquired, this method can be executed at a remarkably fast pace. The abacus has proved a valuable tool for young Muhoza, not only facilitating his thinking and broadening his vision, but also providing support for his dream of educational entrepreneurship.
In 2015, Muhoza came to China to pursue a master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing. He first encountered an abacus in 2017 in a store where an employee was using it to perform calculations. He was intrigued by this mysterious calculation tool and began to take an interest in it. Muhoza encountered the abacus once again just a few months later, this time at a job fair for international students at Peking University. The occasion presented itself during an interview with Shenmo Education, a group that focuses on children’s education and in particular mental arithmetic using an abacus.
On this occasion, he was particularly impressed by this innovative calculation method, which was introduced to him in a more comprehensive way. In the days that followed, he took advantage of his free time to attend several abacus mental arithmetic training courses offered by Shenmo Education, and subsequently obtained a graduation certificate. Given his long-standing interest in children’s education and the imminent completion of his master’s degree, he conceived the idea of establishing an abacus mental arithmetic school in Rwanda.
“I disliked mathematics when I was young,” he acknowledged. “If I had had access to such an engaging abacus at the time, I would have been much more motivated to learn. My goal is to provide Rwandan children with that opportunity today,” he added. Upon completion of his master’s degree in 2018, Muhoza officially joined Shenmo Education and introduced the abacus to Rwanda, thereby launching his educational business.
Promoting the abacus
Upon returning home, Muhoza reached out to several local private primary schools, offering complimentary trial classes to students, their parents, and teachers. The initial sessions focused on the history and cultural significance of the abacus, along with the associated calculation rules. Following this, students demonstrated a keen interest in this mathematical tool, and school principals and teachers recognised its potential as an excellent learning method. As a result, interest in mental abacus calculation grew, leading to its gradual adoption.
While in the teaching role, Muhoza was responsible for recruiting and training teachers in order to create a dedicated team. A few months later, the inaugural ceremony of the Shenmo School of Rwanda, the first branch of Shenmo Education in Africa, was held. As the school principal, Muhoza offered a range of programmes, including weekend classes and summer camps, and has partnered with several local private primary schools to provide regular weekly classes.
At present, the Shenmo School of Rwanda has a team of nearly 10 professional teachers, six partner primary schools and over 1,000 students. In addition to the regular curriculum, the school also organises competitions, which provide an opportunity for students and teachers to enhance their skills and exchange ideas.
Following the second Shenmo Rwanda Abacus Mental Math Competition, which took place on 25 May, Diana Nawatti, principal of the Mother Mary International School Complex, one of the partner primary schools, emphasised the crucial importance of mental calculation in an interview. “It is our intention to dedicate four hours per week to these classes, with the objective of fostering a passion for mathematics in children. This approach encourages engagement with the subject matter and enhances cognitive abilities,” she said.
Strengthened cultural exchanges
At the inaugural African Shenmo Cup Abacus Mental Math Competition held in Nigeria on 14 October 2023, two students under Muhoza’s supervision were awarded the first prize. “These two children, aged 8 and 9 respectively, have achieved a remarkable level of proficiency in mental arithmetic on the abacus after only two years of training. They are understandably delighted,” said Muhoza.
During the sixth General Assembly of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic held in Beijing on 12 April this year, the Shenmo School of Rwanda became a new member of the association.
Muhoza is also an entrepreneur in the field of education and is currently pursuing a PhD in urban ecology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Looking ahead, Muhoza aims to expand abacus mental arithmetic education to more public primary schools, with the goal of achieving true democratisation. He is also making efforts to establish a Chinese cultural centre in Rwanda, believing this will enable children in Rwanda to gain a better understanding of China and of the wider world, while facilitating closer cultural exchanges between China and Rwanda.
