Background. In late 2002, Bing del Rosario began negotiations with Kumon Philippines Inc. to offer the Kumon Math program as an outreach effort at Libis Elementary School in Libis, Quezon City. In December of 2002, KPI approved the proposal for a pilot of 50 students, 25 from Libis Elementary School and 25 from the nearby Bagumbayan Elementary School. Under the terms of agreement, Bing would pay the usual monthly royalty fees per child and hire-pay the salaries-allowances of the center’s teachers and part-time proctors; in turn, KPI would waive the materials cost. In mid-January 2003, the Kumon center inside Libis Elementary School started formal operations, with Mr. Victor Claravall, a Kumon franchisee and director of the Kumon center where Bing’s children were enrolled, volunteering to head the outeach center. In 2004, KPI gave permission to up the enrollment to 75. In 2005, Bing got approval to up the center capacity to 100. And in mid-2006, KPI gave permission to raise the enrolment to 125.

The current approximate “cost” per child is P400 per year, with salaries and allowances taking up 75% of total. Utilities and space has been for the school’s account although Bing has had to make investments in leasehold improvements and furniture acquisition.

Program Benefits. The results over the last four years have been dramatic. Math grades of the children have significantly improved, by an average of four to five percentage points, especially among those who have stayed with the program for two or more years, as attested to by the records that the center meticulously keeps. Most Kumon parents have noted a marked increase in discipline and concentration improved study habits. In January 2006, the school fielded an all-Kumon team to the MTAP competitions and topped the cluster level and then the district level in all categories, and had several first place individual and grade level wins at the division level, the first time the school achieved such a feat. In October 2006, two of the Kumon students actually reached the Advanced Students Honor Roll – those achieving Kumon levels equivalent to three years advanced of their actual school level – and received their gold medals at the PICC. It is also interesting to note that the program has seen through three different school principals, with each one supporting the program wholeheartedly.

Accenture Steps In. Last October 2005, Accenture joined hands with Bing to support the equivalent of 40 scholars for a period of one year, which took a significant financial load off Bing’s shoulders, after he had received KPI permission to increase seats by 25. Most of the Accenture scholars were new entrants, mostly Grade 1. Their selection was based on the premise that the younger they started with the program, the more years they could spend doing Kumon before graduating from elementary school. On November 30, 2005, Accenture Country Lead Beth Lui with Senior Executive and CSR-in-charge Nescel Asuncion attended the simple ceremony at Libis Elementary School to kick off the one-year Accenture scholarship program. Since then, Bing del Rosario and center director Victor Claravall had provided Accenture with semi-annual reports on the progress of the 40 Accenture scholars.

Renewing the Commitment. In October 2006, Accenture decided to reinvest in One Small Step Forward Foundation’s Kumon program for Libis Elementary School, this time sponsoring 10 additional scholars in addition to the previous year’s 40 scholars for a total of 50 awardees for 12 months October 2006 to September 2007. Again, in simple ceremonies last November 6, 2006, Senior Executive and CSR-in-charge Nescel Asuncion kicked off the second year of Accenture’s involvement. The ten new Accenture scholars were presented to Nescel and she was given the opportunity to talk to the 40 current scholars. She also chatted with principal Seri Vargas, who opened the event. A math teacher, a Kumon parent and a Kumon kid gave glowing testimonials.