Entries are open for the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) annual South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC) and Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (Samo).
Entries close on 24 February.
Mathematics teachers nationwide can register their learners for the country’s biggest and most prestigious mathematics competitions until the end of next month. The SAMC is open to Gr. 4 to Gr. 7, while the Samo (co-sponsored by the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants, Saica) caters for Gr. 8 to Gr. 12.
These programmes test learners on their ability to analyse a problem and think analytically.
Dr Belinda Huntley, head of the department of Mathematics at St Catherine’s Convent in Johannesburg and chairperson of the SAMF Advisory Committee on Mathematics (ACM), explained the goal.
“As educators, we want to equip our learners with the necessary skills so that they can read the problem and ask ‘What tools can I use from my toolkit to answer these problems?’
“Many learners are not confident enough, which is why they fear mathematics competitions. They need enough exposure, starting in primary school, to these types of questions. The sooner they start, the more confident they become.
“By encouraging our learners to participate in these competitions, we help them develop analytical and critical thinking, which will stand them in good stead in university studies and life.”
Last year’s winner of the Samo, Emmanuel Rassou, a learner of the class of 2022 at the South African College Schools (SACS) in Newlands, said mathematics is a challenging subject for many people.
“If you want to participate in this year’s competitions, my advice is to persevere. Although the questions are very challenging, you should never give up. Everyone has that problem-solving ability in them,” he urged.
“You should use your teachers as a resource if you have trouble understanding a question. Understanding mathematics is more than repeating the problem over and over. It is about understanding why you are doing the problem and how it fits into the bigger picture, because mathematics is essential for many different fields.”
Parents who want their children to participate must contact the school’s mathematics teacher, who can register learners using the printable registration form on the SAMF website.
