Excellence in Mathematics Education: SAMF Spotlights Top Talent and Schools

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) hosted its highly anticipated annual award ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in mathematics education. The event, held at Emperor's Palace in Ekurhuleni this past weekend, brought together educators, students, and industry leaders in a commendable display of dedication to advancing mathematics in South Africa.

One of the ceremony's highlights was the keynote address delivered by Prof Loyiso G. Nongxa. As an emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and a prominent figure in the field of mathematics, Prof Nongxa's insights were both illuminating and inspiring.

The Foundation is delighted to announce the exceptional winners and top-performing schools in its prestigious learner development programmes. These remarkable individuals and institutions have demonstrated unparalleled dedication and talent, setting the bar high for mathematical excellence.

Winner of the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO): Youkyum Kim

In a display of mathematical brilliance, Youkyum Kim, a Grade 10 student from Reddam House Durbanville, emerged as the overall winner of the Olympiad. His exceptional mathematical abilities and dedication have earned him this prestigious title, highlighting his bright future.

Winner of the Junior Division (Grades 8-9) of the Old Mutual SAMO: Ben Maree

Ben Maree, a Grade 9 student from Westerford High School, demonstrated outstanding mathematical prowess in the Junior Division of the Olympiad. His dedication to mathematics education and impressive performance makes him a deserving winner in this category.

Winner of the Senior Division (Grades 6-7) South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC): Jonathan Coolen

Jonathan Coolen, a Grade 7 student from Somerset House Preparatory School, showcased exceptional mathematical skills and passion. His remarkable achievements in the Challenge earned him the title of overall winner, reaffirming the importance of nurturing young mathematical talent.

Winner of the Junior Division (Grades 4-5) of the SAMC: Ivy Williams

Ivy Williams, a Grade 5 student from Sweet Valley Primary School, stood out in the Junior Division of the Challenge. Her impressive mathematical abilities and dedication to the subject have earned her recognition as a deserving winner.

In the Senior division (grades 10-12) of the Old Mutual SAMO, the competition was fierce, showcasing the incredible talent of South Africa's young mathematicians. Ntswaki Raboroko of Old Mutual presented the awards to the following Silver Medallists:

• 10th - William Alexander - Grade 12 - Westerford High School
• 10th - Jana Rossouw - Grade 11 - Hoȅrskool Jim Fouché
• 9th - Noah Jacobsen - Grade 11 - St John's College
• 8th - Aidan Conradie - Grade 12 - Milnerton High School
• 7th - Hugo Bruwer - Grade 12 - Paarl Boys' High School
• 5th - Yian Xu - Grade 10 - Redhill High School
• 5th - Muhammad Shah Khan - Grade 12 - UJ Metropolitan Academy
• 3rd - Moied Baleg - Grade 10 - The Settlers High School
• 3rd - Jared Slater - Grade 12 - Hoȅrskool Parel Vallei
• 2nd - Minkyum Kim - Grade 12 - Reddam House Durbanville

In the Junior division (grades 8-9) of the Old Mutual SAMO, the competition was also fierce, with exceptional young minds competing at the highest level. Thomas Hagspihl, SAMO Chair of the Problem Committee, presented silver medals to the deserving runners-up:

• 10th - Jan Karsten - Grade 9 - Westerford High School
• 9th - Frederick Senekal - Grade 9 - Hoȅrskool Menlopark
• 7th - Xiaoyuan Li - Grade 8 - St John's College
• 7th - Anni Lou - Grade 9 - Durban Girls College
• 5th - Tsz Pok Pun - Grade 8 - Elkanah House High School
• 5th - Jeremy Liddle - Grade 9 - Bishops Diocesan College
• 3rd - Eli Williams - Grade 9 - Westerford High School
• 3rd - Liam Baruch - Grade 9 - Herzlia High School
• 2nd - Ruichen Wang - Grade 9 - Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria

In the senior division (grades 6-7) of the SAMC, the competition was fierce, and the Silver Medallists demonstrated exceptional mathematical prowess. Ashley Ah Goo, SAMC Chair of the Problem Committee, presented the silver medals with great admiration:

• Arya Pillay - Grade 7 - The Wykeham Collegiate
• Daaruk Kumarasamy - Grade 7 - Glenwood Preparatory School
• Daniel Bester - Grade 7 - Maragon Olympus Private School
• Emily Roff - Grade 7 - Deutsche International Schule Kapstadt
• Emma Harper - Grade 7 - Rhenish Primary School
• Nicholas Cox - Grade 7 - Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory
• Olivia Castleden – Grade 7 - Somerset House Preparatory School
• Rahul Govender - Grade 7 - Glenwood Preparatory School
• Ruan Nieuwenhuys - Grade 7 - Laerskool Lynnwood
• Yicheng Ning - Grade 7 - Redhill School

The runners-up of the Junior division (grades 4-5) of the SAMC were acknowledged for their impressive accomplishments. Ashley Ah Goo presented the silver medals to:

• Ethan Wade - Grade 5 - Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School
• Hein van Brummelen - Grade 5 - Die Krans Christelik Onafhanklike Primere
• Hugo Bohner - Grade 5 - Merrifield Preparatory School
• Joshua Smeda - Grade 5 - Panorama Primary School
• Klara Marie van Daalen - Grade 4 - Curro Somerset West School
• Oliver Kipps - Grade 5 - Western Province Preparatory School
• Suhrit Pitchaimuthu - Grade 5 - Thomas More College

The ceremony also recognised schools that demonstrated exceptional performance in the Old Mutual SAMO and the SAMC, categorised by quintile:

Old Mutual SAMO

• Quintile 1: Ramphelane Secondary School - Sekhukhune District
• Quintile 2: Sibusiso Technical HS - Zululand District Municipality
• Quintile 3: Marobathota High School - Capricorn District Municipality
• Quintile 4: Umtata High School - OR Tambo District Municipality
• Quintile 5: Westerford High School - City of Cape Town Municipality

SAMC

• Quintile 1: Nyandeni Primary School – Gert Sibande District Municipality
• Quintile 2: Sol Plaatjie Higher Primary School- Franscis Baard District Municipality
• Quintile 3: Yinhlelentfo Primary School- Ehlkanzeni District Municipality
• Quintile 4: Nongoma Primary School- Zululand District Municipality
• Quintile 5: Sweet Valley Primary School- City of Cape Town

Prof Kerstin Jordaan, the executive director of SAMF, presented awards to representatives of:

• Midstream College, for being the overall top-performing school in the SAMO
• Sweet Valley Primary School, for being the overall top-performing school in the SAMC

These schools demonstrated a commitment to mathematics education and excellence. Their remarkable achievements earned them the distinction of being the overall top-performing school in the respective competition.

Venessa Oger, representing Standard Bank, presented awards for the Standard Bank South African Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad (SATMO), recognising top-performing students and universities:

• Best Undergraduate Student: Jordan Heugh from the University of Cape Town
• Best Honours Student: Aaron Naidu from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
• Top-Performing University: University of Stellenbosch

The Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) acknowledged excellence in mathematics through the ASSA South African Mathematics Team Competition (SAMTC). The winning teams in the junior and senior divisions were celebrated:

• Junior Division (Grades 8-9): Western Province, accepted by team captain Ben Maree
• Senior Division (Grades 10-12): Western Province, accepted by team captain Moied Baleg

Long-service awards were presented to individuals who have dedicated two decades to the SAMO's Problem Committee:

• Ben Herbst
• Sudan Hansraj

Additionally, Marc Ancillotti, Ashley Ah Goo, and Jeffrey Thomas were honored for their ten years of service on the SAMC's Problem Committee.

A further highlight of the ceremony was the panel discussion on the national strategy for mathematical sciences. The panellists featured notable experts, including Prof Loyiso G. Nongxa, Celiwe Ross (Director of Group Strategy and Group Human Capital at Old Mutual), Robert Zwane (Executive Director: Learning, Development, and National Imperatives at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants - SAICA), and Venessa Oger (Programme Manager at Standard Bank). The discussion provided valuable insights into the future of mathematics education in South Africa.

The Foundation's annual award ceremony served as a testament to the dedication and talent of students, educators, and organizations committed to advancing mathematics education in South Africa. It was a day filled with celebration, inspiration, and a collective commitment to shaping a brighter future through mathematics.

Quotes from Notable Figures:

Prof Loyiso G. Nongxa: "Mathematics education is the foundation of innovation and progress. I am honoured to be part of this event celebrating excellence in mathematics."

Celiwe Ross, Director Of Group Strategy | Sustainability | People | Public Affairs at Old Mutual: "Old Mutual has prioritised skills such as Big Data and DevOps Engineering, data science and analysis, customer insights, artificial intelligence and creative problem solving to enable its Integrated Financial Services strategy. We are proud to support initiatives that promote mathematics education and excellence as these skills are critical to our strategy and long-term growth. It's inspiring to see the achievements of these young mathematicians!"

Robert Zwane, Executive Director: Learning, Development, and National Imperatives at SAICA: "SAICA is committed to advancing the field of Chartered Accountancy through strong mathematical foundations. SAICA recognised the importance of mathematics in creating access to occupations in high demand or critical skills. To this end, SAICA continues to collaborate with SAMF."

Venessa Oger, Programme Manager at Standard Bank: "Standard Bank recognizes the importance of mathematics in shaping future leaders. We congratulate all the winners for their dedication and passion for mathematics."

From left to right: Youkyum Kim, Ben Maree, Ivy Williams, and Jonathan Coolen.