STUDENTS ARE WORKING at maths at home and during the holidays, they’re even asking if they can stay in at lunchtime – they’re dying to improve.

Martina Sexton is a teacher at St.Peters Primary School, Bray. She says the MATHletes Challenge is making a big difference to how her class approach maths.

You may remember MATHletes from Mean Girls – Cady (Lindsay Lohan) was on the North Shore High team.

Mean Girls Mean Girls

The maths tournament has launched for 2015 in Ireland and students across the country are getting ready to battle it out both online and face-to-face for over €20,000 in prizes and the title of MATHletes Challenge All-Ireland Champion.

Entrepreneur, inventor and Dragon’s Den investor Sean O’Sullivan said, 

There is no reason that Ireland cannot be number one in the world in maths.

“The MATHletes Challenge and Khan Academy are innovative and free tools for students to build the strong foundations and confidence in mathematics that they will need throughout their lives.”

‘Replacing fear with fun’

The challenge is free and open to pupils from fourth class in primary school to fifth year in secondary school.

In the last year, the number of Irish students using the Khan Academy has increased from 3,600 to over 26,000.

The 2014 MATHletes Challenge had more than 270 schools, 330 teachers, and 3,000 students compete.

One teacher described the effect of the MATHletes, saying, “Everyone is improving whether your top of the class or struggling a bit” while another said, “We’re replacing fear with fun.”

Entrepreneur and inventor Sean O'Sullivan, with (front row) Eva McDonnell, Holly Ahern, Caitlin Horgan and SinŽad O Brien (background) Juliette Wiseman and Michelle Board from Beaumont National School for Girls, Cork

The four month challenge showcases students on weekly online leaderboards, with top scorers advancing to represent their county colours at the provincial playoffs in April. The All-Ireland MATHletes Championship will then be held in May.

Welcoming the launch of MATHletes Challenge 2015, Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan said:

This is a very beneficial and free initiative that aims to help students develop the confidence and competence to excel in mathematics.

Khan Academy has more than 10 million users per month globally and is advocated by Bill Gates and David Cameron.

Students and schools can sign up for MATHletes Challenge 2015 at Mathletes.ie

Read: Kids’ spelling bee postponed because organisers ran out of words>

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