S.S.B. launches countrywide Math Olympiad

Chebat was in town today to unveil Social Security’s latest initiative in education. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
?Math remains an area of fundamental weakness in our children?s education as so often glaringly reflected in our national examinations. There seems to be an unfounded fear of math at every level of our education system.?

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
That may be today?s reality, but if the Social Security Board has anything to do with it, all that is about to change. This afternoon the S.S.B. officially launched its latest pet project: the Belize National Math Olympiad.

Leticia Constanza-Vega, Manager, Research and Stats Dept. S.S.B.
?The math Olympiad is envisioned as a national high school competition challenge to improve national average in mathematics at the secondary school level, to stimulate enthusiasm and love for math, to develop mathematical flexibility and solving problems, to strengthen mathematical creativity and ingenuity, to foster team and school spirit and to provide for the satisfaction, joy and thrill of meeting challenges.?

The S.S.B. is hoping that the country?s fifty-two high schools will participate in programme.

Leticia Constanza-Vega
?We invite you all, parents, teachers and principals in particular to actively participate by motivating your students to engage in educational yet fun activities that stimulate their enthusiasm and critical thinking through mathematical creativity.?

To create hype, earlier this year the S.S.B. held simultaneous competitions for a theme, logo and poems about math. At today?s ceremony, winners Ashanti Garcia, Shanidi Chell, Vicky Chan and Rochelle Leslie were awarded for rewarded for their efforts.

According to Board Chairman Michel Chebat Jr., the project fits right in with the S.S.B.?s social commitments.

Michel Chebat Jr., Chairman, S.S.B.
?The math Olympiad is one more initiative which serves to illustrate the Social Security Board?s vision of a social insurance system parallel to none, which provides the population of Belize with a social safety net and ensures social equity through innovative and significant programmes and highest standards of quality service. This programme although not a part of our core operations is being launched on the occasion of the S.S.B.?s twenty-fifth anniversary and it joins the list of other goodwill programmes that have been implemented to date.?

Competition between schools is scheduled to begin in January with the national contest slated for March of next year.

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

For more information on the Math Olympiad, you contact the Steering Committee at the S.S.B. at 822-2513.