By Lorenz S. Marasigan
MATHEMATICS learning centers that teach speed and accuracy in calculations are sprouting like mushrooms from here and there.
But there is another brand of knowledge-development institution that is slowly making a name in
the Philippines.
Mathemagis, an after-school “Maths” enrichment program for kids 4 to 12 years old, is a learning center that aims to teach children the values of critical thinking and analysis. It is based on the internationally acclaimed and proven mathematics curriculum of Singapore,
Mathemagis CEO Ina C. Sehwani explained that the program focuses on developing problem-solving skills thorough conceptual understanding of Math principles, visualization using bar models and a well-articulated sequence of topics for preschool up to the primary grades.
“Our aim is to develop critical thinking, analysis, and creativity—things that are known as the 21st Century skills. Access to technology and quick computation are already at hand, the challenge now is to analyze data,” she said in an interview.
Doing Math, according to Mathemagis Chief Program Officer Joanne T. Sison, has changed over time—from simply computing for sums and differences, to processing data and drawing meaning full conclusions based on the answer.
“Mathemagis is a home-grown brand, but we apply the approach that Singapore does in their math curriculum, meaning visual approach to learning and thinking math,” she said.
A teacher, she explained, is assigned to a maximum of six students to guarantee undivided attention and more interaction.
“We encourage the kids to ask questions and to think critically,” she added. Currently, there are six company-owned Mathemagis centers in Metro Manila located in Serendra, Bonifacio High Street, Cedar Makati, SM Pasig, Katipunan and Timog.
“We hope to open five to 10 more centers per year, but it really depends on finding the right partner. We hope to find people—that share the same passion for education—who we can partner with,” Sison said.
Mathemagis COO Julienne S. Vital said the franchise investment for a center ranges from P2 million to P3 million.
“It includes the P600,000 franchise fee. It also includes the manipulatives, the training of the teachers and others. One can hit breakeven, conservatively, under two years. But it depends on the location,” she explained.
Sison noted that the center is continuously improving its program.
“We want to make sure the kids are learning. Right now, we have preschool partners and we go to their schools to do enrichment programs,” she said.
Sehwani added that her company’s aim is to eradicate the stereotype in doing math, and make it more enjoyable for kids while growing up.
“Another important thing about our program is we aim to make kids enjoy learning math. We aim to change the children’s negative perception,” she said. But teaching, while it is a passion, is also a good business, Sehwani noted.
“It also makes good business, because a lot of kids hate math. So our market is really big,” she added. “We are solving a perennial problem, and we’re addressing the problem of parents.”
Typically, a Mathemagis program lasts from a few months to over a year—each depending on the results of the prediagnostic assessment.