Five winners of the national “Elite Mathematics” competition, organized by the Maison Arc-en-ciel association, received school kits and scholarships on Tuesday during a ceremony chaired by the Minister in charge of National Education, Joseph André Ouédraogo.
There are a total of five winners who benefited from school kits and scholarships, following the national “Elite Mathematics” competition.
The first winner, Julia Laura Ouédraogo, with an average of 16.50/20, leaves with a trophy, a school kit, a computer and a scholarship of 100,000 FCFA.
The second Bernice Toé (14.50/20), obtains a tablet, a school kit and a school grant of 100,000 FCFA.
The third Queen Yonli (14/20) leaves with a school scholarship worth 100,000 FCFA and a school kit.
As for the fourth Grace Marie Ilboudo (12.50/20) and the fifth Awa Rachida Tou (11.75/20), they each leave with a school kit and a school scholarship worth 50,000 FCFA.
“The objective of this competition is to encourage girls to love mathematics,” declared the coordinator of the “Maison Arc-en-ciel” association, Harouna Derra.
According to Mr. Derra, it was at the end of the composition of a Mathematics test which took into account almost the entire mathematics program of the fourth grade, that the five best were selected.
For him, this competition aims to create a love of mathematics among girls, because, as a teacher, he has observed that the best students in this discipline are generally boys.
“It’s really rare to see girls who manage to get by with very good grades in mathematics,” he lamented.
He urged the winners to continue this momentum, in order to further honor their teachers, their parents and the entire Nation.
“We will be very proud if in the years to come, one of you manages to occupy first place at the national level in the BEPC exam or the baccalaureate exam,” he concluded.
For her part, the godmother of the ceremony, Professor Geneviève Kabré/Barro, indicated that the “Elite Mathematics” competition makes it possible to celebrate the best girls in mathematics from middle and high schools in Burkina Faso.
“In this sense, it is commendable, because our country needs girls well trained in sciences and capable of developing it and positioning it in the circle of strong Nations in Africa and in the world,” she added. .
According to her, at the national level, “this initiative will help to restore a certain balance”, observed both at the secondary and higher education levels, that is to say the low rate of presence of girls in scientific fields.
Professor Geneviève Kabré/Barro also congratulated the winners for their brilliant performances during this competition.
The Minister in charge of National Education, Joseph André Ouédraogo, urged the winners to take as a source of inspiration and motivation, Professor Geneviève Kabré, the first full professor of mathematics in Burkina Faso.
He hoped that his luminous journey would enlighten them and encourage them to always persevere to give the best of themselves.
The minister also paid vibrant tribute to Professor Kabré for having, among other things, campaigned for the adoption of school uniform in Danfani.
The first in the national “Elite Mathematics” competition, Julie Laura Ouédraogo, aged 14 and a 4th grade student, expressed her joy.
“I am very happy to be elite mathematics and I encourage all the other girls to love mathematics and to participate in these competitions in the years to come.”
According to her, every time there was an assignment, she practiced well so as not to get a grade lower than 18.
“Since 6th grade until today, my math grades are equivalent to 18/20,” she said.
She plans to do the “C” series after obtaining the BEPC, because for her with the “C” BAC, “you can later be an architect or international civil servant”.
The “Elite Mathematics” competition is in its first edition. It was launched on Sunday June 4, 2023 in Ouagadougou.
Source: Burkina Information Agency