For the primary time, Lao college students have made historical past by profitable 13 medals on the Singapore Worldwide Math Olympiad Problem (SIMOC). Competing in opposition to 2,231 college students from 35 international locations and territories throughout grades 1 to 12, the Lao workforce received one Gold medal, six Silver medals, and 6 Bronze medals, together with three Honorable Mentions.
The scholars had been supported by BrightPath Training, an area group that provides scholarships and aids college students in excelling in science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) fields. The Lao workforce comprised college students from numerous worldwide and native faculties, together with Vientiane Pattana College Worldwide, Panyathip British Worldwide College, and Hakkeo Secondary College.
Among the many sixteen contributors, the youngest was Souliyavong Sirimanotham, a grade 1 pupil from Vientiane Pattana College Worldwide. He shared that the expertise was not solely about competing but in addition about exploring Singapore and making new pals.
“I used to be a bit nervous firstly, however I believed in myself and was simply there to expertise all the things,” he stated.
One other pupil, Romina Phoutharaksa Douangmala, a grade 9 pupil from Panyathip British Worldwide College, spoke about her preparation and dedication to “make her nation proud.”
“I practiced as arduous as I might, attending preparation courses for 4 days. I knew it could be difficult, however I used to be decided to win a medal,” she stated.
Alounny Keosouvanh, Director of BrightPath, praised the scholars’ efforts and resilience.
“The occasion was powerful, demanding self-discipline, endurance, and an open-minded method. We’re pleased with all our college students, no matter whether or not they received medals, as they had been courageous sufficient to embrace this expertise. That’s the important thing takeaway we needed for them,” she stated.
President of BrightPath, Rakesh Origanti additionally emphasised the group’s dedication to offering alternatives for college kids keen on arithmetic and STEM topics.
“Our purpose is to supply coaching not solely to college students but in addition to educators, supporting the digital financial system platform,” he said.
SIMOC is an annual worldwide arithmetic competitors that invitations math lovers from all over the world to showcase their expertise and abilities. The occasion consists of three essential classes: Math Olympiad (Particular person Spherical), the place college students clear up issues individually; Math Warriors (Crew Spherical), a workforce competitors with contributors from completely different international locations; and Thoughts Sports activities (Crew Spherical), which focuses on strategic considering.
This 12 months’s efficiency of Lao college students at SIMOC marks a big achievement within the nation’s instructional journey for its younger mathematicians.