As part of measures to arouse students’ interest in Mathematics and promote academic excellence among Basic Six students, Caleb International College has hosted a mathematics competition and rewarded the top three students.
The contest held at the school complex had over eight hundred students entered for the Caleb Mathematics Competition (CMC) and the examiners shortlisted 100 students in different stage of examinations until it got to the Top 8 and Top 3.
The winner emerged as Olusola Ayomide from Francisca Nursery & Primary School in Ilesha, Osun State and he got a cash prize of N500,000 followed by Vanessa Eze from Pampers Private School, Lekki, Lagos who got N400,000. The third position went to Michael Ogbonnaya from Redeemed International School, Apapa, Lagos and he was rewarded with N300,000.
The vice principal, Mr Kasimu Rabiu, who spoke to LEADERSHIP, said that the institution was inspired to create the annual contest to tackle the phobia of mathematics among students.
He added that Caleb International College known for academic excellence and spiritual values, wanted to encourage primary school students to fall in love with mathematics and excel in it, which is a key subject.
“As a mathematics teacher, I want to say the Caleb Mathematics competition which is in its maiden year has seen the benefit of organising such programme.
Students and their parents, teacher came from different states to the venue for this competition and some came as early as 7a.m. We planned for 1,000 students to take the test from stage one but eight hundred were available from the beginning. So the plan was to prune it down to 100 by testing them all in objectives and then to Top 60 and then Top 8 before we arrived at the Top three, the best student coming from a modest school in Ilesha,” Kasmu said.
He added that a free tuition scholarship of reduction of 25 per cent of the school fees was given to the Top 60 students. “We are aware of the situation in the country. This scholarship is our way of identifying with the students and parents who want to enroll their children in our school”, says the Vice Principal.
Dr Funmi Ibuoye, a director, academician and one of the judges of the competition, commended the school for organizing such a lofty initiative that encourages students to develop interest in the subject.
The competition was attended by thousands of people: parents, academicians and the hundreds of students from different schools participated in the ceremony.
