Reception in Canton Sarajevo for Best Young Mathematicians: You Are Our Future and Support for You Is Unquestionable

Best young mathematicians, bronze medal winners from the „Mathematical Balkan Olympiad“, Zlatka Salko Lagumdžija and Demir Papić and the best from the federal mathematics competition Dina Melunović, Neira Kurtović, Emina Modrić and Amar Kurić were received today by the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković and the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Canton Sarajevo Elvir Kazazović.

On the same occasion, due to the best results from the federal mathematics competition, the reception was attended by students of the „Musa Ćazim Ćatić“ Elementary School Ajla Šehović and Hana Ćatić, the best female mathematicians in the category of eighth and ninth grades of elementary schools.

According to bronze medal winner Lagumdžija, their next goal is to go to the World Mathematical Olympiad in Thailand, which will be held on July 16 this year.

- We are diligently preparing with the support of the educational institution 'Bosna Sema' and our Bosnian-Herzegovinian team consists of six competitors, three of whom come from Sarajevo Canton. While we practice and work, we constantly have in mind the question of whether we will secure the necessary funds for travel expenses to Thailand and back, because it is extremely important for us to go to this Olympiad - said Lagumdžija.

Along with congratulations on the achieved results, Minister Kazazović pointed out on this occasion that the Ministry of Education and Youth of Canton Sarajevo will do everything to systematically resolve the issue of support for particularly talented children in mathematics, physics, computer science and all other subjects in the future, in order to ensure adequate conditions for preparations and attendance at all competitions.

The young mathematicians, along with the present representatives of the best schools „Sarajevo College“, International School of Sarajevo and „Musa Ćazim Ćatić“ Elementary School, were informed by the minister and the prime minister about the reform steps this Government intends to take in the field of education, because its goal is to rationalize costs in all positions and redirect the saved funds to higher quality education, and within that, to support particularly gifted children.

- You are our future and support for you is unquestionable. That is why we must acquaint you with the current situation in our society, because tomorrow we expect you to resolutely start fighting all its anomalies and shortcomings with your knowledge, but also with new ideas - emphasized Prime Minister Konaković and supported the stated view that it is necessary to strategically and systematically resolve the issue of continuous support for these young enthusiasts in the future.

The fastest modalities were considered and it was concluded that currently the best way to provide financial support for this purpose is through the Association of Mathematicians of Sarajevo Canton, in order to buy tickets on time and ensure the departure of these „pearls of our society“, as they are called, to this major competition.

Incidentally, the „Mathematical Balkan Olympiad“ was held on May 8 this year for high school students, while the Federal Championship in Mathematics was held on April 26, 2015.