By James Wakahiu
Mang’u High School students bested their colleagues from 60 other schools in the 24th Mang’u National Mathematics contest held at the school last weekend.
During the event which was last held in 2019 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Mang’u High students continued to dominate, taking both first and second positions to once again emerge the best boys school in the contest. Murang’a High took position three.
Samuel Njuguna of Nanyuki High was the math’s wizard of the day in the boys’ individual category while Keith Mwangi and Wesly Maikumi both from Mang’u High emerged second and third respectively.
In the girls’ category, Mary Hill Girls led Bishop Gatimu and Moi Forces Lanet in scooping the top awards. Anita Jelang’at of Mary Hill topped the individual girls performance followed by Prudence Kimathi of Limuru Girls and Sharleen Maison of Moi Girls Isinya.
Eunice Muthoni, Nelson Kamau and Teresia Wanjiru anchored Dundori Secondary School to clinch the mixed schools title. The trio were ranked first, second and third respectively. In this category, Dundori grabbed first and second positions while St Mary’s Yatta finished third.
Joytown Special School scooped the special schools category award. Hilary Ruto, Ezra Mureithi and Evans Mukeku steered their special school to a clean sweep for positions one, two and three respectively.
Congratulating the coordinators of the contest for organizing the event within a short period, Mang’u High’s Chief principal, John Kuria called for all students to remain disciplined for them to succeed academically.
“We want to change the attitude of our students by encouraging them to do well in the subject which is required in our day–to-day lives,” he said.
Prof Gachuhi Waititu, an associate Professor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) who also chairs the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences as well as the Acting head of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, was the chief guest during the 23rd Mang’u National Mathematics Contest.
Gachuhi said Mathematics (Maths) permeates all aspects of life, from vegetable and mitumba vendors in local markets to almost all subjects taught at the university level. On curriculum changes, he said the syllabuses have kept changing from colonial times to the present and will change in future as technology and new learning techniques evolve.
The lecturer tipped students to keep practicing until they make perfect and encouraged them to consult their colleagues as well as their teachers.
“Students need to know the different topics and the different formulas to apply. They must not shy away from asking their classmates and their teachers whenever they have challenges, then keep practicing what they have been taught,’ he said.
The professor told the students that many people think of Maths as a difficult subject yet it is an important subject used in all apects of life.
“It gives you ideas on how to analyze situations from different angles or dimensions. For instance, we were recently in a campaign mood; all the big political contestants were demanding statistics and data from mathematicians so as to plan their campaigns better,” he said.
Prof Gachuhi said the medical and engineering fields use lots of data, from statistics to calculus, algebra to numerical analysis.
“Accounting, Finance and Business Administration, Archictecture and the building and construction industry as well as Computer courses also use Maths extensively,” he said.
Mang’u Mathematics Department in 1996 hatched the idea to popularize and demystify Maths within the secondary school setting in the country as well as to help offset the perpetual challenges affecting Mathematics as a core subject.
“This need was prompted by the fact that Mathematics is a core subject and continues to be the platform to which many other disciplines are based,” said Herman Maina, the head of the Maths Department at Mang’u High and the coordinator for the event.
”Over the years, the contest has provided a forum for interaction and exchange of ideas as well as generating and sustaining interest in Mathematics. We have also achieved another cardinal goal; change of attitude that only a certain caliber of students can excel in Mathematics,” he added.
The Maths tutor said that the competition has boosted performance of the subject for both individual candidates and nationally.He thanked the key sponsors of the programme, Mount Kenya University, Zetech University, KCB (Juja Branch) and the administration of Mang’u High among others, for their efforts to mound the future of secondary school students. MKU sponsored certificates that were issued that weekend and the institution, which has sponsored the event over the years, pledged to continue doing so.
