Industry Education, Tutoring
Founded 1958
Headquarters Osaka, Japan (Global HQ), Teaneck, NJ (North America HQ)
Products Kumon Math, Kumon Reading, Jr. Kumon
Website www.kumon.com
Kumon Math and Reading Center, Scio Township, Michigan
Kumon is a corporation and an education brand created by Toru Kumon. The Kumon method is the mathematics and reading educational method which is practised in Kumon's learning centers.[1]
Contents
History
In 1954, Toru Kumon began to teach his eldest son, who was having problems in mathematics at school. Kumon developed the Kumon Method. In 1956, Kumon opened the first Kumon Center in Osaka, Japan with the help of parents who were interested in the Method. In 1958, he founded the Kumon Institute of Education, after which Kumon Centers began to open around the world. Since 1956, some 16 million students have been enrolled in Kumon. As of 2009, over 4 million students were studying under the Kumon Method at more than 26,000 Kumon Centers in 46 countries.[2]
The programs
Kumon is a math and reading enrichment program. Students do not work together as a class, but progress through the curriculum at their own pace, moving on to the next level when they have achieved mastery of the previous level. Students are often guided by tutors to develop their mathematical and reasoning skills. Mastery is defined as speed (using a standard completion time) and accuracy.[3] They take an achievement test at the end of each level. The ratio between the time the student takes on the test and the number of mistakes will determine which group level the student will be in on the test. There is a total of four group levels on the achievement tests, and the lower the group number the better the score.
Company value
The Kumon family, led by Toru's wife Teiko, owns 60 percent of the company. Forbes magazine estimated in March 2009 that the entire company was currently worth over $650 million.[4]
