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Dr. Simon Chua: For the love of Math

In 1995, Dr. Simon Chua and three colleagues established the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG), a local institute that trains elementary and high school students for international math competitions. Dr. Chua and his colleagues founded the MTG with two purposes in mind:1

  • To further develop the talents and problem-solving skills of the country’s gifted elementary and high-school students
  • To change the image the global community’s perception that the “Filipinos still have a difficult time with Math.”

They seem to be getting closer to achieving their goals.

In the decade since it was established, MTG-trained students have won numerous awards in local and international math competitions. Last year for example, his students finished among the Top 10 in an international math olympiad held in China. More recently, elementary students trained by Dr. Chua bagged two silver and seven bronze medals in the “Primary Math World Contest” held in Hong Kong last July.2

Dr. Chua’s achievements and efforts have also made the international math community sit-up and take notice. He has just returned from Cambridge, England where he was awarded the prestigious Paul Erdos Award by the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions.3

The recognition is given to mathematicians that made significant contributions in “the development of mathematical challenges at the national level and which have been a stimulus for the enrichment of mathematics learning.” The award-giving body praised Dr. Chua’s work as a writer, founder of the MTG and “academic contributor” to various math competitions.4

Dr. Chua is the first Filipino to be honored with the much coveted award.5

Dr. Chua shares that one secret to teaching math is to teach the students how to solve problems “creatively.” According to him, in MTG, they train students to answer advanced trigonometry, algebra and geometry problems using basic mathematical equations. Dr. Chua also advises teachers to make learning math more “fun.” Teachers should use “games and puzzles to make it (math) more enjoyable and less intimidating to students.”6

Ultimately though, how a student appreciates learning math depends on the teacher him/herself. According to Dr. Chua, teachers should express genuine interest in the subject, otherwise, the students will not be stimulated to learn and love math.7

He points to himself as proof of the positive effect a good math teacher has on a student. According to him, it was not until he had a “very good” teacher in high-school did he discover for passion for math. Inspired by his teacher, he promised himself that he would be “as good as him.” And he is. 8

Did You Know?

  • The Paul Edros Award is named after the famous Hungarian mathematician who developed the Ramsey theory, probabilistic method, and analytic-number theory.9
  • Dr. Simon Chua earned his BS Math degree from the Feati University. He currently serves as the principal of the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. 10

Sources:
1-3, 5-8 Dizon, Nikko. “Filipino math trainer chosen Erdos Awardee,” Published on Page A1 of the August 1, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
2 “Pinoy high-school kids excelled in int’l math Olympiad,”
http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl102657.htm
4, 9, 10 Hicap, Jonathan. “Pinoy wins prestigious international math award,”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?storyid=23461
Mathematics Trainers’ Guild
http://www.mtgphil.org