Smartmas Abacus Competition promotes screen-free learning in Techiman
- The 2026 Smartmas Abacus Competition was reported to have taken place in Techiman, Bono East Region.
- Organisers promoted abacus use as a screen-free activity for children’s arithmetic practice and concentration.
- A National Schools Inspectorate Authority official said the initiative could support STEM learning.
Organisers of the 2026 Smartmas Abacus Competition in Techiman, Bono East Region, have urged parents and schools to consider the traditional counting tool as a screen-free aid for children’s learning.
The competition brought together young learners to solve arithmetic problems using abacuses, according to MyJoyOnline. Christian Tugi, identified as Smartmas Area Coordinator for Kumasi, said the programme was intended to encourage concentration and strengthen learning skills among children.
“Replacing screen time with the abacus helps improve their concentration,” Tugi said, adding that it could help learners focus on their schoolwork.
STEM learning focus
Pensa Brefo, Bono East Regional Principal Administrative Manager of the National Schools Inspectorate Authority, said the initiative could support learners’ performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He described abacus training as a possible foundation for skills such as visualisation, memory and logical reasoning.
A competitor, Pius Alebara, said using the abacus had improved his speed and accuracy in classroom calculations. Smart-Mas Abacus coordinator Haruna Boadu also called on parents to pay attention to their children’s learning needs and to consider replacing some device use with abacus practice.
The report presented the competition as part of a wider effort to offer practical, non-digital learning activities for children amid growing use of smartphones and tablets.
Health and learning claims
The organisers linked reduced screen use and regular abacus practice to better concentration and learning outcomes. The source also referred to guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics on children’s screen media use and to studies associating extended screen exposure with developmental and sleep-related concerns.
However, the reported claims about specific cognitive benefits, recommended daily abacus practice and comparisons with screen time were not accompanied by details of the underlying research. They should therefore be understood as claims made by organisers and participants rather than independently established findings in this report.
