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Posted on Friday, 19 August 2011
Article by Pumzile Ludidi
 
King William’s Town was a buzz this week as young and bright minds from all the 23 Eastern Cape department of education (ECDoE) provincial districts met in a contest meant to find and crown a Mental Mathematics Quiz winner.  This competition in which fast thinking, observant and accurate shine saw the Port Elizabeth boy Michael Piterseil, walking away with trophy.

The competition is one of the initiatives that reflect the pockets of brilliance that exists within the department and it’s continually striving to provide opportunities for the learners to utilize their fullest potential.

Since the ECDoE has discovered that most learners struggle to handle operation numbers and are not performing well when it comes to fractions, a plan to break such a stereotype that "Mathematics subject is difficult" has been introduced.

Leading the departmental officials was the Director in the Curriculum General Education and Training (GET), Unathi Nqandela who welcomed and encouraged learners to remain focus while the event was taking place.  “Mental Mathematics is not a killer nor a monster as it is depicted to be, but the ability to perform calculations without the aid of calculators”, said Nqandela.

She further emphasised that this natured competition will promote flexibility in mental calculations and boost confidence for learners to cope better with Mathematics even at tertiary level.

Participants in the competition were Grade 8 learners and each learner was given a pen and paper, with twenty multiple choice questions to answer within ten minutes.

Five of the top five performers were given a chance to prove themselves in a 20 seconds quiz through answering each of the twenty questions they had.  After the competition, all participants were awarded attendance certificates and the top three won beautiful gold trophies for their schools.

The top three performing learners in this competition Michael Peterseil from the Port Elizabeth district who held the first price; Lonwabo Mfazwe from East London at second position and Janico Snyman from Cradock at the third position. 
 
Article Tags: Mental Mathematics Quiz, competition