In what communications minister Faith Muthambi says is an opportunity to profile SA's top mathematicians, the University of Cape Town (UCT) will from today host the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO).
This is the first time the IMO - hosted in a different country each year - will be held on African soil in the contest's 55-year history. Kicking off the academic challenge, IMO leaders arrive in SA to set the Olympiad test papers today.
Teams representing 107 countries, including 14 African countries, will take part in the problem-solving competition.
The South African team for IMO 2014 comprises Yaseen Mowzer (Grade 10), of Fairbairn College; Tae Jun Park (Grade 11), of Rondebosch Boys' High School; Sanjiv Ranchod (Grade 10), of Westerford High School; Bronson Rudner (Grade 10), of South African College High School; Robin Visser (Grade 12), of St George's Grammar School; and Nashlen Govindasamay (Grade 12), of Star College. With the exception of Govindasamay, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, the participants attend schools in the Western Cape.
Muthambi welcomed the IMO last week, saying it would present SA with an opportunity to "showcase the country's ability to host world-class events".
Tough contest
UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price says for an institution that focuses on research and teaching to help African communities grow, UCT is honoured to be the first IMO host in Africa. "One of the best ways to develop a country is to develop mathematics skills, which are necessary for producing well-qualified scientists, engineers and mathematicians."
Professor John Webb, director of this year's IMO, describes the IMO as a "fearsomely tough intellectual contest". He says the mathematical content is not much more than matric maths, but the problems are very difficult. "Mathematics Olympiads focus on the top end of the education spectrum."
Last month, a damning World Economic Forum report ranked SA's quality of mathematics and science education as last among 148 countries. The Department of Basic Education spurned the report, saying it was "not a credible or accurate reflection of the state of education in SA".
Webb paints a slightly more optimistic picture. "In 1992, SA's first year in the IMO, our team was bottom of the rankings. But in 1994 we got it right - we came 27th out of 69 countries and won three bronze medals. Since then we have come 27th three times, and have won a total of 46 medals (one gold, nine silver, 36 bronze) and 43 honourable mentions."
He says, however, that while SA's record is "respectable" - it could be better.
The teams of high school students will arrive on 6 July and the IMO, which is presented by the South African Mathematics Foundation in partnership with UCT, will hold its opening ceremony on the evening of 7 July, in Jameson Hall, UCT Upper Campus.
UCT is the also the host of an annual Mathematics Competition for Western Cape high schools.
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