EVANDER – The Osizweni Science Centre hosted its annual Minquiz Olympiad recently and 22 schools took part in this year’s Olympiad.
Various schools from the Highveld Region of Mpumalanga have competed since 2010, making this year the ninth Olympiad.
MinQuiz, an initiative of Mintek, seeks to stimulate interest in careers involving science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI), especially in minerals and metallurgy, as well as to promote an awareness of the importance of minerals and metallurgy to South Africa.
The event is also used as an opportunity to inform learners of the various opportunities and bursaries offered by Mintek while representatives of Mintek and Osizweni motivate learners through inspiring addresses that focus on building them as individuals and giving guidance about their tertiary studies.
Each school enters a team of three Grade 12 top mathematics and science learners. Learners compete as individuals through a written test while the top five schools in each category, gold and platinum, progress to the oral round of the quiz based on the teams’ aggregate written test score.
This year’s platinum category winners are KI Twala Secondary School with Evander High School in second place and Zendelings Post in third place.
In the gold category, Thistle Grove Secondary School were the victors with Hoërskool Ermelo coming second and Jandrell Secondary School third.
The two learners from each category who achieve the highest results in the written test, will represent Osizweni at the National MinQuiz Olympiad on 18 and 19 July.
This year’s team comprises Ngqulunga Samkelo (Jandrell Secondary School), Dlamini Wiseman (Thobelani Secondary School), Jennah Lewis (Hoërskool Emerlo) and Rose Jerry Thanjan (Evander High).
Ms Angela Stratford, Osizweni’s marketing and PR practitioner, said:
“We have been part of the Minquiz Olympiad for nine years.
“Each year we continue to see the excitement and exposure that this Olympiad gives to our schools.
“We thank Mintek for their efforts that inspire learners to follow careers that our country has a shortage in.”
Osizweni is a Sasol initiative that aims to support and uplift mathematics and science education.
