Anas Sarwar honours Youngsters completing ‘Mini PhD’
At a ceremony in Glasgow, 23 youngsters received awards for completing a leading abacus training programme, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP presenting trophies and certificates.
The War Memorial Hall in Bishopbriggs rang with applause when Mr Sarwar presented each of the children with their awards.
The celebration was organised by Glasgow-based academic and educator Dr Rashmi Mantri, head of The British Youth International College (BYITC).
She set up the organisation in 2015 after teaching her own son Druhv maths using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus.
The school started as an in-person tuition programme with classes in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It is now the leading abacus training provider in the UK and offers online tuition to thousands of students around the world.
BYITC has also developed the world’s first games-based abacus maths application.
Dr Mantri said: “Clearing all levels of Abacus is no walk in the park as it requires a lot of hard work and typically takes students 3 – 4 years of practice to complete this. It really is like a mini PhD for these incredible young people.
“As well as enabling people to do mental arithmetic in super fast time, the abacus is a highly effective brain development tool for concentration.
“The touch and feel nature of it makes it very popular for children with dyslexia also for example.
“With Maths Week Scotland upon us, we want parents and teachers to know that the abacus is a tried and tested tool to improve mental maths.
“Our annual maths competition called an Olympiad, opened on 25th September – it is very popular as it is open to anyone to enter and is free of charge.”
Of the 23 winners at the graduation ceremony, 18 were from Scotland and the remainder from across England and Wales.
Scotland Winners:
- Mishika Pandey, aged 10, who attends East Craigs Primary School, Edinburgh
- Shariva Lasure, aged 12, who attends Craigmount High School, Edinburgh
- Aaliyah Deepak Krishnaveni, aged 11, who attends Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh
- Gauri Shrikande, aged 12, who attends Craigmount High School, Edinburgh
- Aarush Gosain, aged 12, who attends Rosehill High School, Wallyford, Edinburgh
- Taran Vighnesh, aged 9, who attends Kirkliston Primary School, Edinburgh
- Shreya Navratna, 15, who attends Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh
- Rishon Ashley, aged 14, who attends Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh
- Santiago Prieto, aged 12, who attends St Augustine’s RC High School, Edinburgh
- Tanush Venkat, aged 11, Cramond Primary School, Edinburgh
- Atharva Sawant, aged 13, who attends Glasgow Academy, Glasgow
- Tarun Vusikala, aged 13, who attends Hutchesons Grammar School, Glasgow
- Victoria Guseva, aged 10, who attends Shawlands Primary School, Glasgow
- Ojas Maniyar, aged 9, who attends St Patrick’s Primary School, Glasgow
- Deshna Saravanan, aged 11, who attends Mearns Castle High School, Glasgow
- Aanya Pasupuleti, aged 10, who attends Glasgow Academy, Glasgow
- Advik Mittal, aged 9, who attends St Patrick’s Primary School, Glasgow
- Janice Dsouza, aged 11, who attends Bishopbriggs Academy, Glasgow
- Aarush Naik, aged 10, who attends Kinnaird Primary School, Falkirk
England & Wales Winners:
- Varshini Senthilvelan, aged 11, of Hersham
- Vishruth, aged 8, of Basingstoke
- Shreeka Lingala, aged 11, of Cardiff
- Hiransh, aged 11, of Peterborough
Rishon’s parents said: “As parents of the millennials, we stand before a crowd of highly intelligent and capable future leaders – today’s kids.
“Abacus classes run by BYITC are really effective and have made it worth these the kids’ time in preparing, attending and undertaking homework assignments provided by able teachers and coordinators.
“We are humbled by the extent and quality of their input and happy to be part of this fitting recognition.”
Tarun’s parents said: “He loves maths as he finds it fun, interesting and enjoyable.
“He found the Abacus very helpful to solve calculations quicker.”
“He always asks questions and seeks answers. He has a neverending curiosity.”
Anas Sarwar added: “It is a great privilege to meet, and present completion certificates, to all of these high-achieving young people.
“Highlighting the outstanding achievements of young people across the United Kingdom is vital for their own development and the future of our nation, and I congratulate each and every one of them on their awards.
“I would like to congratulate the work of Dr Rashmi Mantri and the BYITC team in continuing to develop and teach the next generation of STEM superstars.”