A message from Kumon North America’s President Regarding Coronavirus

Dear Kumon Families,

Rarely are we faced with a situation that impacts us all like the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to ensure you during this challenging time that the health and safety of our students, families, Instructors, and staff is our number one priority.

Kumon North America has been monitoring the pandemic very closely and is following the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local authorities. The situation is evolving rapidly, and we continue to update our recommendations and information as we learn more.

Late last week, as it became clear that the country was moving towards social distancing, we asked all Centres to follow their local school boards’ lead in closing. With many provinces mandating school closures, that means that most Centres across the country will not be holding class hours for the time being. However, our Instructors are still working very hard to support their students by offering worksheet distribution and at-home study.

For those who don’t know, most Kumon Centres are individually owned and operated franchises. Our Instructors are small business owners who come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some were teachers, others were engineers, scientists, academics, or business people. What they all have in common is a love for education and desire to help their communities. This situation has been uniquely difficult for them, as they have balanced their positions as educators and community leaders with the challenges of running a small business.

Kumon’s Mission states, “By discovering the potential of each individual and developing his or her ability to the maximum, we aim to foster sound, capable people and thus contribute to the global community.” We take our mission seriously and understand the role that our Centres play in our communities and our students’ education and growth.

As such, we are doing everything we can to ensure that our students’ study sees as little interruption as possible during this time. Our Instructors are working to provide worksheets for students to continue their study at home. Instructors will be available to support their students remotely.

We feel that Kumon Students are uniquely positioned to handle this crisis. Our ultimate goal is to develop independent self-learners, capable of studying any subject and overcoming any challenge. As our children’s schools are interrupted, Kumon Students are already prepared to study without the constant supervision of a classroom teacher. They have developed confidence and perseverance, and learned skills like using examples and careful review of directions to figure out answers. We are confident that they will face this challenge with their usual determination.

For those who wish to see as few interruptions to their study as possible, we will be here. Keeping a consistent routine can help children who are facing upheaval and uncertainty. Consistent, daily practice is a key component of skill development, and we are available to support our students.

As your partners in learning, we are here to help.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times.

Mino Tanabe, President