Young mathematicians return from Bulgaria
From 30 June to 5 July four South African youths, three from Kwa-Zulu Natal and one from the Western Cape, participated in the Bulgaria International Mathematics Competition (BIMC) that was held in the city of Burgas.
The team, who are all part of the Siyanqoba Regional Olympiad Training Programme run by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), is one of eight South African teams that participated under the watchful eye of Kitty Phillips, team leader and country coordinator.
Arthur Qampi from Star College in Durban, Mbonomuhle Mncwabe and Nkanyiso Mthembu from Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg and Shandukani Malaudzi from Herschel Girls’ High School in Cape Town all returned home with certificates and motivated to participate in their next competition.
Sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the team is happy with their results, especially since it is the first time these four learners participated at international level.
“There is an urgent need to identify pupils with potential in the lower grades and provide them with training to allow them to compete with confidence in international competitions.,” explains Phillips. “The exposure and continued training will also allow them to compete with confidence in other competitions such as the annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), of which the 55th competition will be held in Cape Town in July 2014.”
The Siyanqoba Regional Olympiad Training Programme aims to develop problem-solving skills, unlike in regular school curricula where the focus is more on solving routine-type questions. Learners identified through the South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) and other SAMF Olympiad programmes are invited to attend regular classes held at a learning centre in their region.
