Nguyễn Văn Tùng, chairman of the Hải Phòng People’s Committee, gives awards to excellent students. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Ngọc

HẢI PHÒNG — The port city of Hải Phòng, in northern Việt Nam, celebrated the outstanding achievements of its students at the prestigious International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2023, which recently concluded in Japan.

The city bestowed honours upon its young talents during a ceremony held on Thursday afternoon.

Việt Nam's delegation comprised six students, each demonstrating remarkable prowess in the competition. The nation's representatives garnered a total of two gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals, showcasing their exceptional abilities on the global stage.

Among the accomplished cohort, Hải Phòng City proudly claimed two medalists. Nguyễn An Thịnh, a 12th-grade student majoring in information technology at Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, earned a gold medal. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Đình Kiên, an 11th-grade student specialising in mathematics, secured a prestigious silver medal, also hailing from Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students.

In recognition of their remarkable achievements, Thịnh received a cash prize of VNĐ500 million ($21,100), while Kiên was awarded VNĐ400 million ($16,900). Additionally, the esteemed teachers who guided these exceptional students were acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. Lê Đức Thịnh, the mentor of Thịnh, received an award of VNĐ250 million ($10,500), and Trịnh Việt Anh, the guide for Kiên, was presented with VNĐ200 million ($8,400).

The celebration of these accomplished students serves as a testament to the city's commitment to nurturing excellence in education and fostering a thriving academic environment. With their commendable achievements, these young mathematical prodigies have brought great pride not only to Hải Phòng City but also to the nation as a whole.

In addition to recognising the students, the city of Hải Phòng also extended its gratitude to the dedicated team of teachers who guided the Math Olympiad delegation. The teachers were collectively awarded a sum of VNĐ180 million ($7,600), while Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, which nurtured these exceptional minds, received VNĐ90 million ($3,800).

The cumulative reward for both the teachers and students who excelled at the International Mathematical Olympiad this year amounts to VNĐ1.62 billion ($68,400), as stipulated in Resolution No. 06/2018/NQ-HĐND issued on July 12, 2018, by the municipal people's council.

Expressing his gratitude during the ceremony, Nguyễn An Thịnh, one of the students, extended his appreciation to the teachers, schools, and families for providing him with an optimal learning environment.

He acknowledged that these achievements marked only the beginning, serving as motivation for him to continue striving and contributing to the future strength of Hải Phòng City.

Teacher Lê Đức Thịnh expressed his hope that the city would continue to prioritise and facilitate the development of intellectually and artistically gifted students, particularly those in remote districts. He emphasised the importance of creating conducive conditions for these exceptional individuals to flourish.

Addressing the students, Lê Tiến Châu, the secretary of the Hải Phòng Party Committee, conveyed that their accomplishments were not only a source of honour and pride for themselves, their families, and their school but also a cause for celebration for the entire city. Châu further recommended that the municipal education and training sector formulate a comprehensive training plan to identify and cultivate outstanding students, not limited to Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, but also across numerous other schools in Hải Phòng.

The recognition and encouragement bestowed upon these extraordinary students exemplify Hải Phòng's commitment to fostering a culture of academic excellence and nurturing the talents of its future leaders. The city remains steadfast in its dedication to nurturing the intellectual potential of its students, ensuring their continued success and bolstering the development of Hải Phòng as a whole.

He emphasised that besides studying hard, students needed to practise to improve their physical and mental health to have enough strength to contribute to the city's and country's development.

According to the municipal Department of Education and Training, Hải Phòng has achieved the remarkable feat of producing gold medal-winning students at the International Mathematical Olympiad on three occasions: in 2009, 2019, and now in 2023.

Teacher Lê Đức Thịnh has played a pivotal role in the success of his students, with two of them securing gold medals. What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is that these two exceptional students are siblings.

Nguyễn An Thịnh's brother, Nguyễn Thuận Hưng, had previously claimed a gold medal in 2019, further cementing the family's legacy of mathematical brilliance. — VNS