2,500 kids gear up for mental math challenge
dubai — Over 2,500 students from 40 schools across the UAE are gearing up for the upcoming grand finale of a mental math challenge next week.
The exam, scheduled on April 26, will test the mental agility of Year 1 to 7 students. From over 32,000 students, 2,500 students from different curriculum boards successfully qualified for the second round of the grand finale.
The competition will see the participation of over 25 nationalities, aiming to develop students’ interest in mental math and improve their speed and accuracy in solving problems.
“Young children should be exposed to such competitions as these play an important role in enhancing their confidence and competitive spirit… With technological developments like artificial intelligence, mathematical skills will be in higher demand than ever,” said Neha Jain, the event coordinator.
The third year of the grand finale is being organised by Ignited Mind Lab, as a CSR initiative of Dubai-based consulting firm Ideal Management Consultants.
The lab also provides books, designed with colourful illustrations and packed with puzzles and games that can help hone the students’ math skills.
Talking about how mental math helps her in her daily life, Ishita Jain, a student from The Millennium School Dubai, said: “Mental math actually keeps our brains quick and sharp. It helps us function in our daily lives in situations such as calculating while shopping, converting from one type of unit into another, such as ounces to pounds or kilometres to miles.”
Grade 12 students, who couldn’t be part of the challenge but wanted to get involved, were given the opportunity to volunteer. About a hundred student volunteers from different UAE schools will be manning and conducting the challenge.
Purvi Jain of Indian High School is volunteering this year for a second time. “Volunteering here taught me how to manage students, do team planning with fellow volunteers and communicate with 4,000 plus parents present at the venue. I have gained useful practical experience here as a volunteer,” Jain said.