Maths boffs shine for their schools, district
PUPILS from AW Barnes and St John’s primary schools represented the East London district at this year’s provincial mathematics competition, which took place at the Stirling Education Leadership Institute recently.
The annual maths competition is run by the department of education, where talented students compete against each other in different levels and grades.
The aim of the competition is to popularise mathematics among primary schools and raise awareness among both learners and teachers that mathematics is a subject that is enjoyable and accessible to all.
Schools are required to identify promising pupils from their school, who will then compete in the different rounds of the competition.
Grade 3 pupil Brandon Abrahams and Grade 2 pupil Shannae Rensburg from AW Barnes competed in the circuit level of the competition, where both pupils won first place in their grades. The pupils then moved on to the district competition, which was held at Voorpos Primary.
Brandon did well in the district rounds and took second place, and together with another Grade 3 pupil, Alonzo Wynne from St John’s, advanced to the provincial level of the competition, which was held at Stirling.
Unfortunately the boys were knocked out at this level but represented the East London district very well.
Trophies, calculators and book prizes were awarded for the best performances, and gold, merit and participation certificates were awarded to all participants.
AW Barnes’s head of the foundation phase department, Nishana Hardavnarain, said she was proud of the pupils, who had represented not only their school but the whole district.
Hardavnarain said both learners were bright and diligent pupils who worked really hard.
“The school is extremely proud of them both. They have really worked hard. They live up to the motto of our school, which is to always aim high,” she said.