Entries are now open for the annual South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC) and the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (Samo).
Mathematics teachers nationwide can register their learners for the country’s biggest and most prestigious competitions in this field.
The SAMC is open for Gr. 4 to Gr. 7 learners, while the Samo, which is co-sponsored by the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (Saica) caters for Gr. 8 to Gr. 12.
Both these challenge learners to think outside the box and test them on their ability to analyse a problem and think analytically.
“By encouraging learners to participate in these competitions, we help them develop analytical and critical thinking, which will stand them in a good stead in university studies and life,” said Dr Belinda Huntley, committee member of the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF).
“Although the questions are very challenging, you should never give up. Everyone has that problem-solving ability in them,” said last year’s winner of the Samo, Emmanuel Rassou, who was a class of 2022 learner.
“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 would like their children to participate in the competitions need to contact the school’s Mathematics teacher, who can register the learners using the printable registration form on the SAMF website.
Registration for the SAMC and Samo close on 24 February.
Visit samf.ac.za for more information and the registration form.
