Students excel in national mathematics contest

By Racheal Nabisubi 

In today’s era, Mathematics is no longer perceived as difficult as was in the past. No matter the age or gender, any person can prove his skills and ability in Mathematics through engaging in a Mathematics contest or a quiz.

Twelve-year-old Rhamona Edopu Jamima of Kampala Parents School is living testimony to this.

She emerged third best in the whole of Uganda out of out of 3,929 students who had registered for the National Mathematics Contest Champions 2015.

It was her first shot at the competition and the delighted Jamima scored 85%.

“My love for Math and desire to become a doctor motivated my hard work,” she said. Besides singing and swimming, she said reasoning capacity helps her excel in most of the work she does.

Her call to fellow youngsters is to think outside the box and put to use their reasoning capabilities. And to parents: “Support your children in everything they do”.

Other top winners in the Math contest were Jonathan Mukalazi, 12, from Lohana Academy Kololo who scored 98% and Philip Taremwa Kamukama, of Greenhill Academy.

The contest is an avenue for encouraging young people to enjoy the learning of Mathematics and also for encouraging teachers to popularize the subject. This year, it was held at Makerere University.

An annual event organized by the Uganda Mathematical Society (UMS), the National Mathematics Contest sits students from universities, teacher training colleges, secondary schools and primary school pupils from all over the country.

Contestants sit two Mathematics papers, which are not necessarily syllabus-based but require largely common sense and creativity.
 

Rhamona Edopu Jamima, 12, was the third best in the country. (Credit: Racheal Nabisubi)

UMS organizes such activities to correct errors of Math phobia and also enable the young generation appreciate the subject. The season which kicks off with registration is open to anyone willing to join in the brain-boosting contest.

Initially 3,929 students sat for Paper I In the 2015 Mathematics contest. Some 1,422 students went on to qualify for paper II.

Some 70 students of Kampala Parents School sat for Paper II and all were awarded certificates of participation.

Samson Katubeho, the school’s head of mathematics, also a coordinator of the contest, was delighted by the performance of those that represented the institution.

“We are happy to have a Math background built for all students,” he said.

Katubeho noted constant training, group discussions and research as some of the tricks that made them excel and have such bigger number of students participate.  He also attributed their successful participation in the competition to the existence of a Mathematics society within the school.

“We train our children on questions that are outside the normal school curriculum but within our daily life (logical questions). After training, a small group is selected to represent others in the competitions.”

Jamima’s father, Peter Edopu was equally delighted by her performance, especially being a first-timer.

 “I have abandoned work to share this precious moment with my child,” he said while at the school for the celebrations. “It is a great honor that parents must always be committed to their children’s lives to help them achieve their dreams.

His advice to fellow parents is to always be keen with children – whether at home or during school time.

“Whatever little achievement a child makes, be there to motivate them because it builds them up socially and psychologically,” he said.

Gilbert Oketcho, who took part in the competition, spoke of his experience.

 “Since I had participated in the competition earlier on, I became a consultant to all those who wished to take part in that of 2015. It is a hard task balancing books and being a head prefect. I am happy to note how successful it has worked out since I grant chance to other leaders to also exercise their powers, which time I use to read my books,” he said.

The National Mathematics Contest Champions was born out of a 1960s mathematics ring at Makerere University, with members mainly from Kings College Buddo, St. Mary’s College, Kisubi and Gayaza High School, among others, plus European lecturers.