LIFESTYLE NEWS - The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) marks World Logic Day by encouraging schools across the country to enter the South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC) and the South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO).
The day highlights the value of clear thinking and good problem-solving skills. These are the same skills learners build when they take part in the two competitions.
World Logic Day celebrates the role of logic in school, work, and everyday life. Logic helps people make sense of information, break a problem into steps, and reach a sound answer.
These ideas sit at the heart of mathematics, and they shape how young people approach new challenges.
Prof Seithuti Moshokoa, Executive Director of SAMF, says logic gives learners confidence. “When young people learn how to think clearly, they become more sure of themselves. They also learn how to make good decisions. The SAMC and SAMO give learners a safe place to grow this skill, one question at a time.”
The SAMC, sponsored by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), invites Grade 4 to 7 learners to explore mathematics in a fun and steady way.
The SAMO gives high-school learners a chance to test their thinking, stretch their skills, and see how far they can go. Many schools use the competitions to build a strong mathematics culture. Teachers also use them to guide learners who enjoy solving problems.
Registrations for both competitions are open. Schools can enter at www.samf.ac.za before 20 February. Entry fees start from R45, and Quintile 1 and 2 schools enter free of charge.
The competitions reached thousands of learners in 2025. Most participants were black learners, with growing participation by girls, supported through collaboration with provincial education departments to advance transformation.
The SAMC reached 77 357 learners from 911 schools across South Africa, with extra entries from Botswana, eSwatini, Malawi, and Namibia.
A highlight was the first blind learner to reach the SAMC Top Ten, Jivana Bissetty from Crawford College-La Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal. The SAMO reached 87 769 learners from 1 288 schools across South Africa and six other African countries.
Prof Moshokoa says the increase in entries shows a strong interest in logical thinking. “Schools want to build these skills. Learners enjoy the challenge. Logic helps them in the classroom, but it also helps them in life.”
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