New Harris Poll Conducted on Behalf of Smile Zemi Reveals More Than Two-Thirds of U.S. Elementary School Parents Say Their Child is Struggling in School Academically

Smile Zemi officially launches in the U.S. on June 1st as an effective in-home learning system, helping U.S. elementary students to overcome learning loss due to the pandemic

LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Parents and guardians of U.S. elementary school students in grades 1-5 continue to express their frustration and concern about their child's academic performance due largely to post-COVID fall-out. According to a recent Harris Poll conducted on behalf of JustSystems, developer of Smile Zemi, an in-home educational learning system, more than two-thirds (69%) of elementary school parents say their child is currently struggling academically in school, and among them, the top reason they attribute this struggle to is the continuing impact of COVID (48%).

JustSystems, a leading software manufacturer in Japan, commenced sales of Smile Zemi today in the United States, aiming to be a solution to these ongoing educational challenges and concerns. Smile Zemi is an in-home educational system developed to enhance learning with math and English Language Arts (ELA) among children in grades 1-5. Early trials in the U.S. validate the impact that this new educational tablet provides in enhancing learning. The program has more than a decade of success in Japan, and is expected to perform similarly in the U.S. Smile Zemi is available at smile-zemi.com.

Affordable out-of-school educational support is needed

According to the findings, while 64% of elementary school parents express the need for their child to have extra educational support for school, 61% say they do no think they could afford to send their child to a physical learning center, and 57% view a private tutor as unaffordable for their child, if they needed extra help in school.

Addressing such needs, the home learning service, Smile Zemi, is designed to serve as an effective alternative to traditional private tutors and learning centers. The system analyzes each child's learning activities and suggests lessons best suited for each child, so they can independently proceed with their learning just as they have a tutor who fully understands them.

In addition, 64% of elementary school parents say their child's writing skills (e.g., spelling, capitalization, punctuation, handwriting, sentence structure) suffered due to virtual learning during the COVID outbreak. The Smile Zemi tablet employs unique palm-rejection technology where users can write while resting their hands on the tablet screen, making accurate and stress-free writing possible. This allows children not only to tap on the correct answers but also to jot down their thinking processes, leading to deeper understanding and critical thinking.

91% understand the importance of summer learning

Additional survey findings show that 91% of elementary school parents say it is important that their children continue to learn during the summer months. In learning this, JustSystems found it important to begin the Smile Zemi service on June 1st to prevent summer learning loss.

‒COVID-19-related learning delays can affect children's futures, and it is essential that we help children to get back on track,– notes Kyotaro Sekinada, President and CEO of JustSystems. ‒Smile Zemi is designed to improve children's learning even in a short period of use, and we hope to serve as a solution to the learning losses children face."

The math and ELA scores improved by 29pp and 21pp, respectively in eight weeks

In advance of the launch, JustSystems conducted 8-week trials with children in second and third grade in two schools in Northern New Jersey. The results were noteworthy: their rate of correct answers for Grade 2 math increased by 29 percentage points from 38% to 67%, and the Grade 3 ELA increased by 21 percentage points from 62% to 83%.

Brian Bryne, principal at Tulsa Trail School, notes, ‒Learning loss during COVID is very real, and we do see it here on a daily basis. I've seen from this program in a short time that Smile Zemi has been very effective. It wasn't just a bandage to the problem.

–Closed system designed specifically for home learning

Smile Zemi is a safe and durable tablet that features a professionally developed curriculum and materials that include videos, exercises, and quizzes with engaging modules and lessons aligned with Common Core State Standards. Designed to be used for learning purposes only, children have no access to games or web browsers. Parents can follow along, tracking their child's progress in real-time via smartphone or tablet. With extra features to make learning fun, children can create a custom avatar, set fun wallpapers, use cameras and albums, and collect rewards based on accomplishments and achievements.

Lifestyle and parenting expert Amanda Mushro suggests educational tablets as a way to effectively help students with math and ELA study. ‒The market needs a product such as Smile Zemi, and the fact that it is a closed system and can be used in-home is a major asset for children and their parents. Smile Zemi is an effective learning solution for parents looking to improve their child's academic success,– she concludes.

Smile Zemi is available for purchase today at www.smile-zemi.com. To learn more about Smile Zemi, visit the website.

Survey Method:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Smile Zemi from April 25-27, 2023, among 328 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who are parents of kids in grades 1-5. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact kelley@southardinc.com.

About JustSystems

Since its inception in 1979, Japan-based company JUSTSYSTEMS CORPORATION (JustSystems) has made it their goal to create new value through dependable technologies in natural language processing and more. The company provides software and services such as the ATOK Japanese input system and the Smile Zemi distance learning system for a wide range of customers, including private sector companies, government institutions, local governments, schools, and hospitals. JustSystems strives to provide innovative software and services required by businesses in the new era and create a new direction for the children who will shape future generations. JustSystems is listed in the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A wholly owned subsidiary, JUSTSYSTEMS AMERICA, INC., based in Los Angeles, California, serves as headquarters for JustSystems' operations in the U.S. For more information about JUSTSYSTEMS AMERICA, INC., please visit the company's website at https://us.justsystems.com/.

Pull Quote

‒Smile Zemi is designed to improve children's learning even in a short period of use, and we hope to serve as a solution to the learning losses children face." -- Kyotaro Sekinada, President and CEO of JustSystems

Media Contact

Kelley DeVincentis, JustSystems, 1 2127772220, kelley@southardinc.com

SOURCE JustSystems