Maldivian students have secured prestigious top honours at the international Young Mathematical Story Authors (YMSA) 2026 competition.
Organized by MathsThroughStories.org, students from the Maldives claimed first place in all three age categories: 4–7 years, 8–11 years, and 12–16 years. This achievement marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time in the competition’s history that a single nation has swept the top prizes across all categories.
The Young Mathematical Story Authors (YMSA) competition is the world’s first and largest international annual contest designed to encourage young learners aged 4 to 16 to demonstrate mathematical concepts through original and creative storybooks in meaningful and engaging contexts.
Organized annually since 2019 by the MathsThroughStories.org initiative, the competition has attracted more than 7,000 students from over 40 countries worldwide, establishing itself as a leading platform for promoting creative mathematical literacy.
In the 2026 competition, which featured participants from 34 countries, more than 650 students from the Maldives took part. As a result, the Maldives emerged as one of the most highly represented countries among all participating nations.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE) and the Maldives National University (MNU), has fostered an environment that enables Maldivian students to excel on the international stage. The teacher training programmes jointly conducted by MNU and NIE provided a strong foundation for this success by introducing educators to innovative approaches to teaching mathematics through storytelling.
Furthermore, Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai, founder of the MathsThroughStories.org initiative, played a pivotal role in strengthening teacher capacity through professional development and technical training programmes.
This historic achievement demonstrates how strong institutional collaboration and sustained support can unlock and enhance the talents and capabilities of our students. The successful partnership between the Ministry and higher education institutions has shown that the quality of education in the Maldives is capable of not only meeting international standards but also excelling beyond them.
As the nation celebrates this proud milestone in its educational journey, this achievement signals a new era of excellence, creativity, and innovation in mathematics education in the Maldives.