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Marymount dominates Old Mutual maths contest

 

Mzuzu-based Marymount Catholic Secondary School, an all-girls institution, yesterday dominated the K10 million Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad to scoop the best mathematics school award.

However, it was Nkhotakota Secondary School’s Daniel Mkandawire who shined as the overall winner.

The competition, organised by Mzuzu University (Mzuni) with spondorship from Old Mutual Malawi, attracted 167 students from 58 secondary schools nationwide. Twenty-five best students were awarded with certificates, cash and school materials after sitting three examinations over three days.

The students at the start of the contest on Tuesday
The students at the start of the contest on Tuesday

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mzuni deputy vice-chancellor Loveness Kaunda said the institution came up with the contest to demystify mathematics as a subject.

She encouraged students to take mathematics seriously because it is the foundation for many professions.

Said Kaunda: “Mathematics is a core subject in any profession. We can’t run away from that because it is needed be it in homes or business.”

The Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad, as the competition is officially called, was revived in 2014 when Old Mutual and Mzuni signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) after years without the competition. Previously, it was run by Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi.

Kaunda said since its revival, the competition has registered more girls this year where eight of them made it into the top 25 best students. She said this means that girls can excel in sciences as much as their male counterparts.

Old Mutual regional manager (Central and North) Vincent Mkandawire said they will continue funding the competition and make sure that more schools participate in the competition.

The first, second and third place winners went away with K70 000, K60 000 and K50 000 respectively in addition to a certificate and school materials.

Schools that made it into the top five are Chaminade, Marymount, Bishop Mtekateka, Dedza and Nkhotakota secondary schools. Marymount triumphed for having the most representatives in the top 25 students and for putting up the best effort. n

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