Sofia High School of Mathematics – a new achievement

published on 1/20/10 1:23 PM

Photo: BTA

The students of Paisiy Hilendarski Sofia High School of Mathematics won a number of prizes at a recent international Olympiad in mathematics, physics and informatics, which has become a tradition already. Competing with over 300 participants from 16 European and Asian countries, the Bulgarian students won two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze at the 6th Zhautykov International Olympiad in mathematics that took place in Kazakhstan. The competition includes renowned mathematical high schools with traditions in teaching gifted students. Among 49 teams, the Bulgarian team was ranked 3rd. The High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in the Bulgarian town of Shumen took the 4th place in the team rankings. At the end of 2009, the younger students of the Sofia-based High School of Mathematics also won a few medals at the annual Philippine International Mathematics Competition. Extensive teaching of mathematics starts in the fifth grade of the mathematical school. “Mathematical talent can already be found in children aged 10 or 12 and this talent must be further developed,” the high school principal Mariana Todorova explains. Some of the best Bulgarian teachers in mathematics, many of them former students of the school, work with the children. “We make a selection of our best students,” Ms Todorova says. Besides the regular curriculum classes, students have additional classes in mathematics and informatics, financed under the “Caring for Every Student” programme of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education. The programme finances schools that are medal winners at different international competitions. During the last year, the students of the Sofia High School of Mathematics were very successful and their victories brought 71 000 lev (35 000 euro), used for financing the additional classes for over 600 students. Ms Todorova says that mathematical education continues to attract interest.
“IT jobs are the best paid in the world,” Mariana Todorova says. “As our students are well trained in mathematics, they are usually successful in the IT sphere. That is why their parents urge them to study mathematics. A 100% of our students go to universities and 90% of them study in the sphere of mathematics. Of course, there are students, who go to study history or medicine but they are not many. The school is in contact with a number of international universities. The University of Groningen, The Netherlands has noticed the success of our students and now we are to sign an agreement, so they can get a bachelor’s degree from the university for 3 years instead of 4. This is done in order to satisfy the growing needs of European countries for hi-tech experts. In Bulgaria the hi-tech sector is under-developed and our students leave the country not due to financial difficulties but in order to be in touch with the newest technologies.”

The Bulgarian gold medallist from the competition in Kazakhstan, Viktor Vulov, says he is to study in the US or Europe. He is interested in the sphere of finances. His classmate Vladislav Haralampiev, who won a silver medal in Kazakhstan, says he will stay in Bulgaria. “I like it here and I think I will stay. I don’t think everybody should be going abroad. Talented people are need in Bulgaria too,” he says. Vladislav Haralampiev plans to study informatics at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
“Informatics is an important science these days. Calculations are needed in every business sphere. I also like the fact that the computer does what you want it to do. In order to be good in informatics one must be good in mathematics, physics, and even biology, as some algorithms are based on biological processes,” the student concludes.

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Rumyana Tsvetkova

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Sofia High School of Mathematics – a new achievement

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