Kumon’s self-propelled, incremental learning method is a lesson in investing in students’ futures
By Alyssa Thulmann
Kumon’s story begins just like that of the many families who seek their services: with a parent wanting the best for his child. Toru Kumon, a high school mathematics teacher from Japan, saw his son struggling with math and took it upon himself to help. He created worksheets with math problems and equations for practice. Over time his son not only improved but excelled, and neighbouring families asked if Toru Kumon could help their children.
The Kumon Method of Learning was born.
The first official Kumon Learning Centres opened in Osaka, Japan in 1955. Since then, Kumon has grown to an international franchise system with more than 1,600 locations in the U.S., nearly 440 in Canada, and a presence in many other countries. “We are still working hard to continue to grow, and we’re in over 60 countries around the world,” says Craig Mayer, Kumon’s national manager of network centre development in Canada.
Centres offer supplemental education services ranging from preschool to university-level calculus, all focused on the premise of self-learning. As Krishnan Venkatraman, a franchisee and instructor in Sudbury, ON, explains, “The idea is to work on the student’s independence, so you never over-help a student—you always get the student to the point that they can be successful on their own.”
Students work through one concept at a time, using worksheets with examples and directions to guide the children through their learning. “Each of the worksheets will have a gradual increase from one concept to the other,” says Mayer, adding that students completely master each concept themselves before moving on to the next worksheet.
Additions and multiplication
Having seen the method’s success, Kumon has continued to grow to help as many children as they can. “From a core value standpoint, the main goal of Kumon is to bring the Kumon Method of learning to as many children as possible,” Mayer says. From their more remote markets to their most robust, “what we want is for kids to be able to experience this method of learning so that they can be the best person that they can be.”
Kumon has come a long way since its inception. This includes the transition from small locations in non-commercial rentals such as churches and community centres—only open a few days a week—to retail locations that give their franchisees 24/7 access, in addition to offering classes four days a week.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it many challenges, but also new advancements. “Like everybody else we needed to evolve and change from there. We’d already been working towards this, but we’ve introduced what’s called Kumon Connect,” Mayer shares.
Kumon Connect integrates tablets into students’ study methods, moving their worksheets from just paper and pencil to a digital format so students have multiple avenues for learning. Instructors continue to put together lesson plans and worksheets, and through the Kumon app, students can keep up their studies even when they’re away from the physical centre.
“It’s really helped us bridge the gap, [since] families are just so busy,” says Mayer.
With Kumon Connect’s playback feature, instructors can even see the students’ work in real time—where they went back and where they seem to be struggling—to improve the programming and fill any gaps. “[It gives] us a lot more insight into the learning of our students, which is really what we’re here for,” Mayer explains.
Another important program the brand recently launched is its English as a Foreign Language program (EFL), which is fully up and running in Quebec, helping improve the English language skills of francophone students.
“I’m really excited about [EFL],” Mayer says. “Having that avenue in Quebec is huge for us.”
They’ve also launched the EFL program in the U.S. for Spanish-speaking students.
As families become busier and the supplemental education services market continues to expand, Kumon is constantly adapting and adding new programs, initiatives, and centres to improve their reach.
“When you are competing against other educational opportunities, whether they be online or in-person, it just makes you up your game that much more,” says Mayer.
Learning for all
It’s integral to Kumon that the instructors, all the way to the senior leaders, truly understand the Kumon Method of Learning. This means everyone learns and practices the method during their initial training with the brand. To help with this, the brand developed an Instructor Development Program within its training program, Kumon University.
The brand offers a myriad of trainings and resources to its franchisees, who are called instructors. This includes two sessions of intensive four-day classroom training that goes over the learning methods, worksheets, business planning, customer service, operations, real estate, and more. They also offer in-centre training that allows new franchisees to shadow and assist an existing instructor.
Additionally, after a franchisee opens their business, Kumon offers access to field consultants, monthly meetings, workshops, and special systems developed for communication.
“The Kumon franchise is very good at providing very specific support,” says Venkatraman. He benefits from the help of a field consultant, who acts as his go-to person for any assistance he needs.
Venkatraman opened his first Kumon franchise in Sudbury, Ontario. A genetic engineer by training as well as a former professor and department chair at the formerly federated Laurentian University, his son’s education was important to him.
“My son was five years old and on the autism spectrum, and I was looking for a Kumon centre in Sudbury. In 2011 there was no Kumon centre [there],” Venkatraman says. So, what did he do? He opened his own.
The centre performed well, and Venkatraman enjoyed being a franchisee: “I love working with minds and shaping learning trajectories.”
But being a franchise owner requires a lot of commitment and energy, and doesn’t tolerate prolonged absences. So, following some changes to Venkatraman’s personal life, he knew the best thing for the franchise would be to sell it.
Fortunately, another opportunity presented itself. In 2021 Venkatraman found himself in the position to consider opening another business. Having seen such success with Kumon the first time, he opened his second location in Sudbury.
Now his centre sees approximately 200 students, and he plans to continue growing these numbers. “Because it’s such a powerful program, I want as many children as possible to benefit,” he says.
Venkatraman’s centre also sees many children with developmental challenges and delays. “And we also have a lot of success with these young people,” he shares. “It’s nice to see some of them go ahead and graduate high school, get into a program of their choice, and be employed within the community.”
Kumon connections
“I’d like people to understand that investment in an education [franchise] is probably the best investment they’ll make in their lives,” says Venkatraman.
This investment extends from Kumon’s customers to their franchisees and their brand as a whole. The brand is constantly evolving and adding new programs, such as Kumon Connect and the EFL program, alongside more locations and increased accessibility.
Because the self-learning, incremental approach to studying known as the Kumon Method gives students a chance to not just learn about a certain subject, but to master the art of learning itself, students can carry this investment with them long after graduating.
Venkatraman—alongside his Kumon team members—cares deeply about his students and revels in their success. “It’s an incredible experience,” he says. “I still have families who [I run into while shopping] and they’ll say, ‘I can’t believe how you changed my kid’s life.’”
Learn more about franchising with Kumon Math and Reading Centres
