After 22 hours of intensive mathematics training over three weekends, learners from Gr. 6 to Gr. 12 from the Free State and the Northern Cape took part in the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) Mathematics Team Competition (SAMTC) on 14 September.
The Junior 1 team, consisting of Gr. 8 and Gr. 9 learners, came 8th in their division out of 43 teams.
Dr Elsie Schoombie, the organiser of the competition, said the Junior 2 team consisting of Gr. 6 and Gr. 7 learners, as well as Gr. 8 and Gr. 9 learners, obtained valuable experience. They came 37th.
The Senior 1 team, consisting of Gr. 10, Gr. 11 and Gr. 12 learners, came 9th in the senior division out of 42 teams, and the relatively inexperienced and young Senior 2 team, consisting mostly of Gr. 10 learners came 23rd.
“This is a huge achievement since the team also had the handicap of consisting only out of eight members instead of ten members, contributing to their total marks,” she said.
She said all of these learners, their parents and schools can feel proud of their achievements and their participation in these teams is on a par with obtaining provincial colours in sport.
“In this case the ‘sport’ in question has the benefit of being a livelong skill.”
Parents that want their children to be trained for participating in olympiad mathematics, can send a WhatsApp to Schoombie on 082-926-6674.
The Living Maths Olympiad will be conducted in the 4th quarter – a fun and highly accessible introduction to taking part in mathematics olympiads from Gr. R up to Gr. 9.
