To uplift the country’s mathematical standard to a global level, five young mathematics enthusiasts have started an initiative called the Olympiad Mathematics, Bhutan. Each month, they create a monthly Olympiad-level math challenge and share it on various social media platforms. Students submit solutions for an opportunity to win 500 ngultrum, with top entries discussed in a Zoom session. Through the initiative, they hope to bridge a gap in the national curriculum and indirectly prepare more students to compete internationally.
One of the members of the initiative is a participant in the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is the world’s most prestigious mathematics competition for high school students, held annually since 1959. It tests participants on problem-solving.
Bhutan made its debut at the competition last year, with five students representing the country and finishing 103rd out of 108 nations.
But for Tandin Tshering, a former participant in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the experience sparked more than just pride, it ignited a mission.
“The idea for this initiative came up with a simple desire to keep math alive outside of the classroom. With exposure and my experience at the IMO, I learned about how different IMO math can be compared to the conventional math that we learn in our classrooms. So with this initiative, I want to provide students with a platform where they can get exposure to this kind of Olympiad Mathematics and enjoy problem solving.”
With four other equally passionate high school graduates and two of them national math toppers, the group spends hours crafting a single, world-class math problem every month. The group plans to scale up as participation grows.
“This initiative is more than just teaching mathematics. It is to nurture a deep-rooted passion for the subject. In this generation, AI, machine learning and data are not just relevant but also competitive. We hope to nurture this mindset early on so that we have the next generation of thinkers from Bhutan itself,” said Roshan Dahal, a tutor at Olympiad Mathematics, Bhutan.
Participation in the monthly challenge is currently open only to Bhutanese students up to class 12, including Bhutanese students abroad. About 30 students from across the country participate in the challenge every month.
“In our classroom mathematics, each question has a predefined standard, procedures and predefined answers. Well, in IMOP mathematics, it requires deep-level thinking and creativity. And one fun thing is that, IMO, mathematics could be solved collaboratively, and there are many different ways to solve it. It makes mathematics more fun, in my opinion,” said Jigme Yoezer, also a tutor.
The group also recently expanded their reach by posting solution videos for the Bhutan Higher Secondary Education Certificate (BHSEC) math papers, with plans to cover the Class 10 examinations as well.
At a time when Bhutanese education is grappling with quality concerns and limited STEM engagement, an initiative like the Olympiad Mathematics, Bhutan is a proof that sometimes, the most radical changes come not from systems but from students.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Sonam Pem
