In a move reflecting the growing interest in scientific fields and confirming the success of national plans to develop young talent, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) announced a record-breaking 99,179 male and female students from across Saudi Arabia participating in the inaugural National Science and Mathematics Olympiad, “Nasmu.” This prominent scientific event is organized in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, serving as a leading national platform for discovering and nurturing exceptional minds in the fields of science and mathematics.
Historical background and the pioneering role of “Mawhiba”
Mawhiba was established in 1999 as a national non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and nurturing talented individuals in scientific and technological fields. Today, it is a cornerstone in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in the area of human capital development. For over two decades, Mawhiba has launched dozens of programs and initiatives that have honed the talents of thousands of Saudi students, preparing them to compete internationally. The Nesmo Olympiad represents the culmination of these efforts, unifying national competition tracks within a comprehensive and integrated framework that supports the Saudi national teams representing the Kingdom globally.
The importance of the "Nesmo" Olympics and its strategic impact
The impact of the “Nesmo” Olympiad extends beyond its role as a scientific competition; it serves as a fundamental driver within the educational system. Locally, the Olympiad fosters a culture of excellence and innovation in schools, encouraging students to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields—the very foundations of the Kingdom’s knowledge-based economy and industrial future. It also provides teachers with an opportunity to enhance their skills in teaching these subjects using innovative methods. Internationally, “Nesmo” is a primary source of talent for national teams participating in international Olympiads, with Saudi students having won hundreds of medals and global awards, thus bolstering Saudi Arabia’s scientific reputation and improving its ranking in global competitiveness indices.
Details of the extensive participation in “Nesmo”
Mawhiba explained that the registered students represent 8,356 schools across 47 cities and governorates, distributed among 16 educational districts, ensuring the opportunity reaches the widest possible segment of students. The Riyadh Education Department topped the list of participants with 13,117 students, followed by the Makkah region with 9,565, and then the Eastern Province with 7,925 students. The participation was distributed across the six Olympiad disciplines, with mathematics having the largest number of registered students at 29,052, followed by informatics with 23,238, biology with 13,916, chemistry with 12,446, physics with 11,305, and finally science with 9,223 students.
Stages of competition and the road to global recognition
The Olympiad consists of three main phases of training and testing. The first phase begins next Sunday with tests at the city and provincial levels. Outstanding students from this phase will advance to more specialized and in-depth training stages, culminating in the finals where the elite students who will form the core of the Saudi national teams will be selected. These students will undergo intensive training programs led by specialized experts and academics to prepare them to compete in international science Olympiads and represent the Kingdom in the best possible way.
