The second phase of the Nesmo Olympics for developing talented individuals has begun
The second phase of the Nesmo Olympics has begun
In a strategic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing the capabilities of its youth, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in active partnership with the Ministry of Education, launched the second phase of the National "Nasmu" Olympiad. This phase sees wide participation, with 19,489 male and female students from across the Kingdom, with the primary goal of preparing young scientific talents in 47 Saudi cities to compete internationally and strengthening the sustainable talent development system.
Historical context and the role of “Mawhiba” in supporting innovation
The Mawhiba Foundation was established as the Kingdom’s premier incubator for creative talent. Since then, it has been dedicated to discovering and nurturing gifted individuals in scientific and technological fields. The Nesmo Olympiad is an extension of a series of programs and initiatives closely aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically the Human Capital Development Program, which aims to cultivate globally competitive citizens. Investing in young minds is no longer an option; it is a fundamental pillar for the transition to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
Details of the second phase and intensive training
The current phase, which runs until April 9th, includes intensive scientific training programs. These programs are supervised by a select group of 778 highly qualified teachers. Students receive six hours of training daily for five consecutive days in various governorates. Mawhiba revealed that the qualified students represent 16 educational districts, in addition to the education departments of the Royal Commission in Jubail and Yanbu.
Scientific disciplines and the mathematics track take precedence
The participating students are distributed across six vital and specialized scientific disciplines. Official statistics show that the mathematics track has the largest number of participants, with 5,830 students. This is followed by the informatics track with 5,057 participants, then the biology and physics tracks with approximately 2,220 students each, and finally the science and chemistry tracks. This diversity reflects the program's comprehensiveness and its coverage of the most important fields of modern science.
Expected impact and international engagements
Locally, the Nesmo Olympiad fosters a healthy competitive environment that raises the level of academic achievement. Regionally and internationally, this program serves as a true breeding ground for the Kingdom's champions, who will represent it in global events such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. The Kingdom has demonstrated its excellence in recent years by winning hundreds of international awards, and Nesmo is the first step to ensuring the continuation of this excellence and raising the Kingdom's profile even higher.
A resounding success for the first phase and a highly anticipated conclusion
The organizers noted that this year's Olympiad has seen an unprecedented expansion in participation. The first phase kicked off with a massive competition involving 99,179 students from over 8,000 schools across the country. The second phase is scheduled to conclude with the in-person public administration competition next Thursday, paving the way for the formation of preliminary teams that will advance to advanced training stages and final national examinations.
National event to discover talented individuals
In conclusion, the Ministry of Education affirmed that this strategic collaboration with Mawhiba aims to build a stimulating educational environment that transforms national talents into innovative forces. The Nesmo Olympiad transcends being merely an annual competition; it has become a major national event targeting students from the first year of middle school through the first year of high school, and a cornerstone in building a bright future for the Kingdom, empowering its youth to compete and lead on a global scale.
