School sets record for organising e-maths contest

KOTA BHARU: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Zainab (SMK Zainab) has created a record and had its name in the Malaysia Book Of Records (MBOR) for organising the largest participation of entrants in an e-mathematics international competition.

Kelantan State Education Department deputy director Abdullah Mat said the school had earned the record for organising the ‘E-mathematics Genius Open Competition’ which saw 2,824 participants not just from Malaysia, but also from Thailand and Bangladesh.

“Such activities are encouraging as it can challenge the minds of students to master mathematics,” he told reporters after opening the competition at the school yesterday.

Also present were the school’s principal Siti Hawa Muhamad and the school’s alumni association (SEMENZA) president, Prof Dr Nik Maheran Nik Muhamad.

Abdullah said the activities would indirectly promote the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes among students, which were also in line with the recommendations of the Education Ministry.

“It gives students the opportunity to master the STEM subjects which is a priority in national education, and to produce potential students in mathematics and science in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Siti Hawa said the competition involved participants from various age groups including primary school, secondary school and university students.

She said the competition which fully utilised online applications, required participants to answer 15 questions in a quiz on their respective smartphones within 30 minutes.

“The approach to using technology in education is expected to produce creative students who were able to think outside the box,” she said.

There were nine winners in the competition, three each for the primary school, secondary school and university categories. - Bernama