Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TEAM Zimbabwe at the ongoing 2024 International Junior Science Olympiad Competition in Romania appear to be in high spirits with the six-member team expected to bring home some silverware.
The team-made up of former three students from St Johns College, Hellenic Academy and Arundel School- left for the European country earlier this week for the annual competition slated for December 2-12 in Bucharest, Romania.
The contest will comprise of three tests in physics, chemistry and biology, each of which lasts between three and four hours.
The theoretical portion consists of two tests: a multiple choice questionnaire consisting of 30 questions, and a theoretical test.
The practical portion consists of three laboratory examinations, one for each field.
Zimbabwe is currently being represented by Munotida Mundira (St Johns College), Munotida Munhemo, Rutendo Kufakunesu (Arundel), Xander Stevenson and Joshua Carlise (both Hellenic Academy).
Speaking from Romania, Carola Bogezi described the mood with the Zimbabwean camp as upbeat.
“We are particularly excited that these young students, all aged 15 and below, have shown great determination, hard work and stamina over the last two school terms,” said Bogezi.
“They have received additional science tutoring every week outside of their regular lessons at a level beyond their current classroom level.
“They have also spent a great amount of time together which has fostered the team spirit, which will be very critical for a competition of this magnitude,” said Bogezi, one of the organisers.
Bogezi added: “Outside of the competition, we will also be taking the students on tour to some of the famous locations in Romania such as the Dracula’s castle, the Science Museum and the Parliament Palace which was built under Ceausescu, a Romanian politician, which we believe will be very exciting for them on a social level.
The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is an annual individual and team competition in the natural sciences for students who are under sixteen years old on 31st December of the competition year.
The IJSO was established in recognition of the significance of the natural sciences in the general education of young people and in all aspects of their lives and is a purely educational event.
The promotion of science education is particularly important to aid the development of African nations.
