Twenty two students from different primary and secondary schools around the country have been sent by the government of Rwanda to this year’s October 22-30, mathematics competition in Thailand.

The Minister of Education, Daphrose Gahakwa, received the student delegation, last Thursday in her office for a briefing on its conduct during the ten-day Chiangmai stay and on details of the competition.

The 22 students were selected from the following schools; Sunrise, Green Hills Academy, Kigali Parents School, La Colombier, Kigali Junior Academy, Lycee de Kigali, and Fawe Girls School, due to their exceptional performance in mathematics and the use of English by the respective schools.

Speaking to The New Times, the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Claver Yisa, said that thirty countries including Ethiopia, South Africa and some Asian countries will take part in the competition.

"We have been given conditions to base on during selection; students should not have enrolled at secondary schools or at any equivalent institutions, should have been on or after 1 October 1995 and students who have not enrolled for upper secondary education or any of its equivalence, and were born on or after 1 October 1992,” Yisa explained.

Accordingly, the objectives of the competition are five: to organize an international mathematics competition for key stage II (upper primary education) and key stage III (lower secondary education) students; to motivate students and teachers to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and high-order thinking skills; to establish cooperation networks of international mathematics improvement; to provide students with opportunities to exchange mathematics knowledge and practice, and cultural experiences among participating cities and countries; and to upgrade school curriculum concerning mathematics to international standards.

Emile Ruberwa, the Education ministry, Public Relations and Communication Officer, revealed that awards and prizes are in four levels.

"Approximately two-thirds of the participants will receive individual awards in the form of gold, silver and bronze medals, with an approximate ratio of 1:2:3. And there are team awards that will be: gold, silver and bronze medals and in the team competition, prizes will be given to the three teams achieving the highest scores in different groups,” he explained.

Grouping will be done through drawing lots. And the third awards will be the Highest Total Scores Award: grand, second, third and honorary prizes. The Grand Prize is awarded according to the sum of the four team members’ scores in the individual competition, and of the team’s scores in the team competition. Second, third, and honorable prizes will also be awarded, according to Ruberwa.

Every participant will receive an IMC 2008 certificate. English and Thai will be the official languages of the Competition. The competition committee comprises of experts from Thailand and one team leader from each participating team.

Darlene Ineza,10, from Green Hills Academy said that she is optimistic that they will return to the country with glory.

2008 International Mathematics Competition (IMC 2008) delegation was sponsored by the Ministry of Education as part of Rwanda’s effort at build quality and standard education.

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