{"id":42627,"date":"2023-05-22T15:47:52","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T15:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwandan-students-win-big-in-math-competition"},"modified":"2023-05-22T16:15:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T16:15:10","slug":"rwandan-students-win-big-in-math-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/culture-and-art\/rwandan-students-win-big-in-math-competition","title":{"rendered":"Rwandan students win big in math competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Rwandan secondary school students have won five silver and four bronze medals in the 30th Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), a continental competition in which 31 country teams participated.<\/p>\n

During the awarding ceremony held in Kigali, on Sunday, May 21, Rwanda\u2019s team became the fourth overall winner, after Morocco, Algeria and South Africa.<\/p>\n

The first PAMO competition to be hosted by Rwanda began on May 15, bringing together more than 170 secondary students from 31 African countries. Moroccans won three gold medals. The overall male winner was Youcef Kenane from Algeria, while the top female winner was Hiba el Farchioui from Morocco.<\/p>\n

This was Rwanda\u2019s third participation and the biggest win in the PAMO competition, organized by the African Mathematics Union. In the previous two competitions, the country team won four bronze medals.<\/p>\n

Each country team consists of three girls and three boys, accompanied by a leader and deputy.<\/p>\n

The contestants took part in two four-hour 30-minute exams involving original questions, selected by the PAMO Problem Selection Committee and Jury.<\/p>\n

Prof Sam Yala, the president of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Rwanda centre, one of this year\u2019s organisers, said the PAMO competition is about raising awareness about the mathematics talents of young Africans, especially those pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis competition is also a way to reinforce science and mathematics education. And mathematics is very important in STEM education. So, we want to use this competition to help the secondary students to experiment and develop their problem-solving skills from an early stage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Desire Joseph Abayo, one of the Rwandan silver medallists, said the team showed a remarkable improvement from the previous two competitions, in which Rwanda won bronze medals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very happy to have won a silver medal and become the 11th overall winner. It is thanks to our trainers and practice that we have come this far. There is no doubt that in future competitions Rwanda could scoop gold medals,\u201d Abayo said.<\/p>\n

Ornella Nina Umukundwa, another Rwandan participant who contested for the second time, said: \u201cLast time I failed to get a medal, but with passion and persistence, I have now scooped a bronze medal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise the importance of mathematics as fundamental to all sciences as it relates to problem-solving and critical thinking,\u201d said Rwanda\u2019s Minister of Education, Dr Valentine Uwamariya.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy building and supporting mathematics talents and young people, starting from the lowest level, we are building the future of the country. We are looking at ways of improving our country\u2019s economy by basing on the knowledge of our children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Youcef Kenane from Algeria emerged as the overall winner after scooping a gold medal.<\/p>\n

Minister of Education, Dr Valentine Uwamariya delivers remarks during the awarding ceremony.<\/p>\n

Minister of Education, Dr Valentine Uwamariya.<\/p>\n

Hiba el Farchioui from Morocco emerged as the top female winner in the 2023 PAMO competition.<\/p>\n\r\n