Day Star Academy emerged tops at the mathematics contest held at Alliance High School in Bor town of Jonglei State on Friday.
The competition was aimed at bolstering students’ mathematical skills in preparation for university entrance.
A mathematics teacher and acting director of studies at Alliance High School, Michael Makuei Ghai, who was the principal organizer, told Radio Tamazuj that the contest was designed to motivate students and prepare them for the critical role mathematics plays in their higher education.
“Day Star Academy has emerged as the top performer in both categories,” Makuei said.
“We have a Junior Category for Form Three students and a Senior Category for Form Four students. Day Star scored the highest in both sections. However, it is worth noting that the overall performance was underwhelming, with no school achieving an average score above 50 percent.”
In the Senior Category, Jacob Leek Ajak from Day Star achieved the highest score with 6 out of 10, followed by Clinton Bior Buol of Alliance High, who scored 3 out of 10. For the Junior Category, Thiak Kuot Thiak from Day Star led with 4 out of 10, while Nikodemus Abuk Yuang of Amazing Grace High scored 3 out of 10.
Makuei emphasized the significance of mathematics in advancing students’ educational paths. “Mathematics is a crucial subject that students must master to succeed in higher education. This contest was organized to foster a greater appreciation for mathematics and to address the overall low performance in this subject across the country,” he said.
The competition featured Alliance High School (the host), Amazing Grace High School, Day Star Academy, and Spotlight High School.
Jacob Nhial Adek, the Principal of Amazing Grace High School, highlighted the contest’s role in reshaping students’ attitudes toward mathematics.
“Contests like these are crucial in changing students’ negative perceptions about subjects involving calculations and in preparing them for national examinations,” Nhial said.
He further addressed the widespread belief that mathematics is inherently difficult, which he suggested contributes to poor student performance.
“Students often perceive mathematics as a hard subject, leading them to invest less effort. This negative perception is why many students struggle with mathematics in exams. I encourage students to overcome these beliefs, dedicate themselves to their studies, and actively engage with their teachers and textbooks,” Nhial added. Jonglei State, where Bor is located, has a reputation for academic excellence. In the 2021/2022 National Secondary School Examination, seven of the top 10 students hailed from Jonglei.