30/06/2025

Brazilian Ministry of Education launches 'All of Mathematics' at OBMEP awards ceremony.

The Ministry of Education (MEC) launched, this Monday (30), the “National Commitment All Mathematics”. The program’s objective is to develop actions to guarantee quality education and improve students’ academic performance in the subject. The announcement was made at the National Award Ceremony of the 19th OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools), which brought together, in Rio de Janeiro, 683 students from all Brazilian states and the DF to receive the gold medal of the scientific competition.

“In the same way that we launched the national commitment to literacy for children, with goals established with states and municipalities, we are launching the 'All Mathematics Commitment' to support teacher training and provide technical and financial support to basic education networks to improve mathematics learning,” stated the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana.

The federal government's initiative aims to reduce regional inequalities, consolidating the discipline as an essential tool for developing the country's students. The decree creating the program will be signed by the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, highlighted the importance of OBMEP for the country. “It’s not just the biggest scientific competition in the country, it’s a celebration of knowledge! Proof that when we give opportunities, our young people shine. Today, we see the spectacle of having this number of young people, girls and boys, participating massively in this Olympiad, so important for the popularization of science.”

Promoted by the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA) since 2005, OBMEP annually brings together more than 18.5 million students in 99.9% of Brazilian municipalities. Marcelo Viana, the institute's director-general, highlighted the impact of the Olympiad's two decades of success.

"At 20 years old, OBMEP is present throughout the national territory, discovering and encouraging talent across the country and bearing fruit, such as Olympiad alumni occupying prominent positions. Scientific Initiation programs, such as PIC and PICME, and training programs like POTI, ensure the right of students to study mathematics with the support of federal agencies. In addition, there is the Junior Olympiad, which aims to encourage a positive relationship between younger children and mathematics, and IMPA Tech, IMPA's first undergraduate course, which boasts medalists."

Also present at the ceremony were the Secretary of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, Kátia Helena Serafina Cruz Schweickardt, the Secretary of Science and Technology for Social Development of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Inácio Arruda, the State Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro, Roberta Barreto, and the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio, Renan Ferreirinha, who was a medalist in the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP).

The ceremony marked the awarding of the Girls in the Olympics Trophy . Created in 2018 to encourage female participation in scientific competitions, the award recognizes young talents and seeks to reduce gender inequalities in mathematics. In this edition, 16 students were honored. “I am very happy for this opportunity. It is my first gold medal and it has been a remarkable experience. It was very exciting to receive the trophy as a highlight. There aren't many girls in mathematics and the award further encourages female participation and interest in the field,” said student Leticia Damaceno (CE).

OBMEP medals also open doors to higher education. Institutions of excellence, such as IMPA Tech, Unicamp, and USP, offer selection processes aimed at students who have won awards in scientific olympiads, valuing the performance and potential of those awarded national medals. This year, 15 students pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation at IMPA Tech received gold medals that helped secure their place at the institution.

In addition to the 683 gold medals, the 19th edition of OBMEP distributed 1,962 silver medals; 5,851 bronze medals; and 51,002 honorable mentions, as well as state awards. The award ceremonies are organized regionally.

OBMEP: 20 years of success

Created in 2005 by IMPA, OBMEP is promoted with resources from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Ministry of Education (MEC). Aimed at students from the 6th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school, the Olympiad contributes to stimulating the study of Mathematics and identifying young talents in the discipline. Other objectives of the initiative are to promote social inclusion through the dissemination of knowledge and to contribute to improving the quality of basic education, enabling a greater number of Brazilian students to access quality teaching materials.

National medalists from the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) can participate in the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program), which offers advanced mathematics classes. Students from public schools who are part of the program receive a monthly scholarship of R$ 300, granted by CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development).