Dubai waits to know who is good at mental math

Many children have a phobia for math and some of them even lost interest in the subject and give up.

A long wait is over. More than 1,000 students who attended the grand finale of a mental math competition will know the names of the winners today. 
To instil love for the subject in students, a Mental Math examination was conducted in the city that saw a participation of over 20,000 children (of different schools from Grades 1 to 7) from across the UAE. The grand finale saw 1,450 students appear for the second round of the 45-minute, 100-mark exam at the Amity University in Dubai. The exam was organised in line with the UAE's Year of Giving initiative, by India-based firm Ignited Mind Lab - a company that conducts mathematical competitions to keep students engaged and interested in math.
"The main objective of the KHDA-approved competition is to develop interest by engaging students in solving variety of problems at different levels of difficulty and giving them the confidence that they can do it," CA Dilip Jain, who organised the event, told Khaleej Times.
Jain said: "It is much more than a mere competition. Many children have a phobia for math and some of them even lost interest in the subject and give up. So we thought that we could develop their interest in this subject through competitions by engaging them into solving variety of problems at different levels of difficulty. It is very important that we prepare children well and make it possible for them to taste success at an early age. It enhances their self-esteem and makes them confident to face future competitions which are the gateway to careers in medicine, engineering, information technology, accountancy, financial analysis among others."
Mallika Menon, faculty head, Mathematics at the Dubai Scholars Private School, said: "Mental Math, irrelevant of its applications, is an excellent way to stimulate one's mind. Not only does it generally stimulate your mind, but it also helps one get a better 'number sense'. Such math competitions help in laying a firm foundation for students' future development."
Neer, Grade 4 student of Gems Modern Academy, who attended the exam said: "I liked this exam because it helped me improve my concentration, made me revise old concepts. Also, because I like to solve challenging sums."
Soumil Jain, a Grade 6 student at Our Own High School - Al Warqa'a, said: "Preparing for competitive exams like Mental Math will mould students for higher professional competition exams. It helps improve practical mathematical problems, logical reasoning, concentration and memory."
Ishita Jain, Grade 7 student of The Millennium School (Dubai), said: "Mental math actually keeps our brains quick and sharp. It helps us clear our concepts and also assists us in our daily life situations while shopping or converting from one type of unit into another."
The results of grand finale will be announced today and Suhail Mohammed Al Zarooni, an Emirati Guinness World record holder and chairman of Al Zarooni Foundation, will distribute prizes to the winners at the Amity University Dubai on October 21.
saman@khaleejtimes.com