…The AOA competition attracted more than 3,000 Swati learners
… Four Sifundzani learners made it to the intensive mathematics camp in Pretoria
… Eswatini won three bronze medals at PAMO, with two going to Sifundzani learners
… Simphiwe Zwane became the only one of 48 top learners to receive a scholarship to the African Olympiad Academy in Rwanda
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE– Sifundzani High School has put Eswatini’s young mathematics talent on the continental map after Feziwe Simelane and Simphiwe Zwane returned from the 31st Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) with bronze medals.
The prestigious competition was held in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, where some of the continent’s brightest young mathematical minds battled through demanding tests and problem-solving challenges.
The two Sifundzani learners were among three Swati students who won bronze medals, helping Eswatini secure second place in the Southern African region.
Their success came after a rigorous journey that started with more than 3,000 Swati students participating in the African Olympiad Academy (AOA) competition.
Only 12 learners were selected to attend an intensive mathematics camp in Pretoria, with four of them coming from Sifundzani. The school’s representatives were Simelane, Wakhonkhosi Dlamini, Zwane and Siphiwosethu Fakudze.
Over four days, the learners took part in mathematics olympiad games, intensive lessons and rigorous testing aimed at developing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. They also had the opportunity to collaborate with learners from different cultural backgrounds.
For Zwane, the journey reached another remarkable height when he became the only awardee among 48 top-performing learners from four countries to receive a prestigious scholarship to the African Olympiad Academy in Rwanda.
Celebrating the achievement on its Facebook page, Sifundzani said: “We are beyond proud of this monumental achievement!”
Following the Pretoria camp, six of the 12 national delegates were selected to represent Eswatini at PAMO in Yamoussoukro, with three of those spots going to Sifundzani learners.
The bronze medals won by Simelane and Zwane have now added a historic highlight to the school’s mathematics programme while showcasing the potential of Eswatini’s learners on the African stage.
Sifundzani also expressed gratitude to the sponsors, Ministry of Education and Training and the PAMO host organisation for helping make the learners’ journey possible.
From Pretoria to Rwanda and ultimately Yamoussoukro, the learners’ journey has turned classroom calculations into a continental success story.
#SifundzaniExcellence #SifundzaniHighSchool #PAMO #MathOlympiad #EswatiniPride #STEMEducation #FutureLeaders #MakingHistory
(Courtesy Pic)
