Kumon, a Japanese-style tutouring system, has reached 50,000 student enrolments in its after-school math and reading programs in Canada.
"With centres in over 45 countries, we're absolutely a global organization,"said Lisa Kaul, general manager, Kumon Canada. "But if you walked into any one of those centres, what you'd discover is a very community-minded individual running a very local business."
Students are taught a unique learning approach to math and reading via an individual program plan. With over four million students currently enrolled, the Kumon method has been widely accepted as a supplemental program to accelerate learning, Kaul added.
Kumon centres are individually owned and operated, with 15 operating in the Metro Vancouver area. Instructors for the franchise must have at least a four-year university degree and a vested interest in helping the education of children in their community.
Kumon currently has 1,500 centres in the United States and 300 in Canada, with more than 24,000 worldwide. To start up a Kumon franchise, applicants need to pay a $1,000 franchise fee, and from $30,000 to $100,000 for a storefront office of at least 800 square feet.
–- Compiled by Kevan O'Brien
from Western Investor, April 2011
