12 Kenyan Students to Compete in 2 International Mathematics Contests
Kenyan schools will be represented by 12 students in two renowned Mathematics competitions.
Six students are set to participate in the 65th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), a prestigious annual event for high school students, held on a rotational basis across different countries.
This year’s competition will take place from July 11 to July 22, 2024, at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. Participants from over 100 countries, including Canada, USA, China, India, and South Korea, will compete.
Additionally, six other Kenyan students will compete in the 37th Pan African Mathematics Olympiad. This event will be hosted by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in South Africa from August 10 to August 20, 2024.
Mr. Martin Mungai, CEMASTEA National Trainer in charge of Coding, made the announcement, noting that over 1,000 students will participate in the two contests, tested in topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and advanced problem-solving techniques.
Selection Process and Preparation
The 12 students were the top performers in this year’s Kenya Mathematics Olympiad, organized annually by CEMASTEA in partnership with the University of Waterloo, Canada, and the University of Nairobi.
In the first round of the competition held in May, 258 junior category students (Form 1 and 2) and 504 senior category students (Form 3 and 4) were selected based on their performance. Those who excelled proceeded to further rounds.
Mr. Mungai emphasized that the goal of these competitions is to improve performance and promote excellence in Mathematics among high school students, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills applicable to real-life situations.
He stated that participating in these events offers students a chance to interact with some of the world’s brightest mathematicians, raising their profiles for future career advancement and enhancing their chances of joining prestigious universities like Harvard.
Efforts are being made to encourage more students, especially girls and those from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds, to participate. Teachers are urged to identify talented students in Mathematics, providing them the opportunity to engage with some of the most skilled students globally.
Vision 2030 and the Importance of Mathematics
Mr. Mungai highlighted that for Kenya to achieve Vision 2030, Mathematics and Science must be prioritized in schools.
He noted that Mathematics equips students with the skills to solve complex challenges and emphasized the importance of fostering a love for the subject among students to enhance their critical thinking abilities.
The contests have not only improved students’ problem-solving skills but also fostered cultural integration and boosted morale.
Mr. Mungai pointed out that the Kenya Mathematics Olympiad has helped debunk the myth that Mathematics is a difficult subject, particularly encouraging girls to improve in the subject through application-based questions.
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) began in Romania in 1959 and is the oldest of the International Science Olympiads, held annually except in 1980 due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
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The Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), organized annually by the African Mathematics Union since 1987, invites the best secondary school Mathematics students under 20 years old to compete. Kenya hosted PAMO in 1991 and 2018.
The East African Mathematical Olympiad, inaugurated last year, aims to enhance appreciation of Mathematics and prepare students for international competitions.
Mr. Mungai concluded that the regional competition, organized by the East African mathematical community, is crucial for fostering a passion for Mathematics among young contestants, enabling them to meet and share their enthusiasm for the subject.
12 Kenyan Students to Compete in 2 International Mathematics Contests
