Maths wiz keeps adding to her success
Sphesihle Maseko has been paving her way to win the provincial Olympiad for years.
Tsakane – Sphesihle Masilela (12) won first place in the provincial Maths Olympiad and she still wants more.
“I didn’t think it was possible for me to win because I came second in the district round,” says Sphesihle.
Taj Mukwevho, maths teacher and acting principal at Funukukhanya Primary School, says they have always tried to support the grade six learner in the competitions.
“She started competing in the Olympiad when she was in grade 3 and we knew then that she was gifted.”
Mukwevho says that over the years Sphesihle would only reach the Gauteng East cluster level.
“Last year I told her that I will push her hard to get to provincials because I knew she could do it.”
Sphesihle says her main short-term goal is to make it to next year’s grade 7 Olympiad.
“Now that I know I can do it I will not settle for anything less.”
The South African Mathematics Olympiad, hosted by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), is said to be the biggest olympiad in the country.
According to SAMF almost 100 000 learners participated in the 2017 Olympiad.
“It generates much-needed interest in the subject for learners,” adds Mukwevho.
