Phi Connections
Jan 25, 20192 min
Singapore, 19 Jan 2019: In an endeavor to acclaim the best and brightest young minds on the international stage, participants of the prestigious Southeast Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO) converged on Suntec City Convention Centre in Singapore for the final round of the global competition (SEAMO X 2019).
Candidates across 15 countries were present – Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Romania, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, USA, Vietnam and India.
SEAMO is a unique assessment platform originating in Singapore and directed by Mr Terry Chew, the author of the celebrated math Olympiad book series ‘Unleash the Maths Olympian in You!’. The Singapore Math Olympiad curriculum places emphasis on Critical Thinking Skills as part of its 21st century core competencies. Students must be able to make connections and think outside the box in order to be successful in school and in the workplace.
Questions posed in the SEAMO competition paper will trigger participants’ logical reasoning and creative thinking skills. Mr Roy Lo, Managing Director at SEAMO, expressed, “It is our hope that children, especially at this young age, can be inspired to develop these crucial skills for their future betterment. Mathematics is not about rote learning or memory work. There are several approaches to any one problem and the one you choose will make the difference between a GOLD medal and a BRONZE medal.”
Mr. Terry Chew, Academic Director at SEAMO, advised, “40% of the SEAMO syllabus is modified to meet international standards while retaining the flavor of Singapore Math Olympiad. It is a comprehensive syllabus which exposes students to in-depth, stimulating and interesting mathematical problems. It is my pleasure to welcome the students to participate in one of the most inspiring and creative exams in the South East.”