King David Schools participated in the first-ever Wits Mathematics Competition and came out triumphant.
Spokesperson for the school Gabi Cohen said, “In line with the vision to drive South Africa’s mathematical development, the University of Witwatersrand decided to hold a competition to enhance students’ mathematical standards. In its first year, this competition attracted 836 students from schools across Gauteng.”
King David Schools including King David Linksfield, Victory Park, and Sandton, entered 10 learners per grade from Grade 6 to 12 in this competitive mathematics written paper competition which took place at Wits.
In the individual category for Grade 6 and 7, five out of the top 10 achievers were from King David Schools. In the Grade 8 and 9 categories, King David learners occupied two of the top 10 positions, including the first place for Daniel Strous who achieved 85 per cent in this category. In the Grade 10 and 12 categories, there was one King David learner who placed in the top 10.
In the prestigious school awards, in the Grade 6 and 7 category, with 24 schools across Gauteng participating, King David Sandton achieved first place, King David Linksfield second place and King David Victory Park achieved fourth place.
In the Grade 8 and 9 category, with 41 schools across Gauteng participating, King David Linksfield achieved second place and finally in the Grade 10 and 12 categories, with 71 schools participating, King David Linksfield achieved fifth place and King David Victory Park achieved seventh place.
Master teacher of mathematics at King David Schools Leigh Pleass said, “One of the aims of King David Schools is to lift the general standard and capability of every student to think more deeply in maths concepts. We have received a clear indication that we are on the right path to achieving this objective as can be seen with these results.”
Pleass said that one of the objectives of the Wits Mathematics Competition is to identify mathematical talent for the International Maths Olympiad.
She added, “As can be seen with these phenomenal results, King David Schools are producing ‘thinking’ pupils with dedicated teachers embracing changing methodology and focusing the students on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
General director of the South Africa Board of Jewish Education, Rabbi Craig Kacev congratulated all the students who participated in the competition as well as the excellent maths departments and teachers across all the King David Schools.
Details: kingdavid.org.za
