310 Schools Enlist For Mathematics Olympiad Contest
The Kenya Mathematical Olympiad 2023, organized by the Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), witnessed the participation of 310 registered schools across the country.
This contest, aimed at developing thinking skills and promoting creative problem-solving, strives to foster a positive attitude towards mathematics among students and enhance their performance in the subject.
In the region of Kiambu, 11 schools enrolled for the contest, recognizing its significance in shaping students’ academic journeys.
John Oyuga from CEMASTEA, speaking at Ngenia Secondary School in Limuru Kiambu, highlighted the crucial role of mathematics in various disciplines and careers, emphasizing the need to promote the contest as a means to enhance mathematical skills.
Oyuga stressed the importance of nurturing critical thinking abilities in students and encouraging them to go beyond mere calculations.
The winners of the contest will have the opportunity to participate in another Olympiad at the national level and proceed to an international competition, competing with students from other countries.
These selected teams will receive additional training in applications of mathematics, emphasizing problem-solving rather than solely focusing on calculations.
Principal Paul Waruterre of Ngenia High School commended CEMASTEA and the learning institutions for their efforts in capacity building among teachers in mathematics and sciences.
He acknowledged the positive impact of in-service training on teachers, enabling them to deliver high-quality education in these subjects.
The improved skills of teachers have led to a demystification of science and mathematics concepts, making them more accessible and comprehensible to students.
Ngenia High School, for instance, fielded a strong team of 50 students from different forms to participate in the Kenya Mathematical Olympiad.
Through this competition, students engage with their peers from other institutions, boosting their morale and motivating them to work harder.
Waruterre expressed optimism about improved performance and a growing interest in science and mathematics subjects, which has led to a paradigm shift among students in favor of these disciplines.
Mose Bernard, the head of the Mathematics department at Ngenia High School, shared insights into the school’s preparation for the contest.
The internal evaluation process resulted in the selection of 100 students, with the top 25 from junior and senior forms participating in the contest.
Bernard highlighted the need to change students’ attitude towards mathematics, emphasizing that it is just another subject that can be mastered with the right mindset and engagement.
Kelvin Ngure, a form three student participating in the contest, expressed enthusiasm and confidence in his preparation.
He emphasized that mathematics inspires and challenges him, debunking the notion that it is a difficult subject.
Ngure recognized the importance of excelling in sciences to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.
The contest is divided into three rounds. Round one, which took place recently, consisted of 25 questions to be completed in 60 minutes without the use of calculators.
Round two will involve numerical answer questions, while the third round will require students to provide full solutions.
The top-performing students will receive certificates of merit, while all participants will receive certificates of participation.
The Kenya Mathematical Olympiad is a collaborative effort between CEMASTEA, the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and the University of Nairobi.
This partnership aims to create opportunities for students to excel in mathematics and promote educational excellence in the field.
310 Schools Enlist For Mathematics Olympiad Contest
