The second phase of the Nesmo Olympics for developing talented individuals has begun
In a pioneering step towards enhancing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position on the global innovation map, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, launched the second phase of the Nasmo National Olympiad . This launch saw the participation of 19,489 male and female students, with the primary objective of preparing young scientific talents in 47 Saudi cities to compete internationally and strengthening the sustainable talent development system adopted by the wise leadership.
The journey of scientific excellence in the Nesmo Olympiad and the history of talent discovery
The general context and interest in discovering talented individuals in the Kingdom dates back decades, with the establishment of Mawhiba in 1999 as the national umbrella organization for fostering creativity. Since then, programs and competitions have evolved to meet the latest international standards, culminating in the launch of the Nesmo Olympiad , a natural extension of the state's efforts to invest in human capital. This Olympiad is not merely a passing exercise, but rather the product of years of collaborative planning between higher and general education institutions to build a solid foundation of scientists and thinkers capable of leading the technological and scientific future.
This current phase, which runs until April 9th, includes intensive, high-quality training programs. These programs are supervised by a select group of 778 teachers, with students receiving six hours of training daily for five consecutive days, carefully distributed across various governorates to ensure that all participants have access to the knowledge.
Participating Scientific Disciplines and Educational Regions
Official statistics released by Mawhiba revealed that the qualified students represent 16 educational districts across the Kingdom, in addition to the education departments of the Royal Commission in Jubail and Yanbu. These talented students are distributed across six vital and specialized scientific disciplines. The mathematics track led with 5,830 participating students, followed by the informatics track with 5,057 participants. Biology and physics each had approximately 2,220 students, while general science and chemistry followed.
Strategic impact and expected international standing
The significance of this scientific event lies in its profound and multifaceted impact. Locally, the program contributes to creating a competitive educational environment that enhances the quality of educational outcomes and aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. Regionally, this initiative reinforces Saudi Arabia's leading position as a regional hub for scientific innovation in the Middle East. Internationally, preparing these students ensures distinguished representation for the Kingdom in prestigious international Olympiads, thereby raising the Kingdom's ranking in global competitiveness indicators for education and innovation, and highlighting the Saudi mind's capacity to win gold medals and compete with developed nations.
Conclusion of the second phase and future aspirations
The organizing body explained that the second phase will conclude with the in-person public administration competition exam next Thursday. This exam is a crucial step in forming the initial teams, preparing them for the advanced training phases and final national exams. A notable feature of this year's competition is the significant expansion in participation, with 99,179 students representing over 8,000 schools across various regions participating at the outset.
The Mawhiba Communications Office indicated that this massive national project specifically targets students from the first year of middle school through the first year of high school, thus contributing to their early empowerment on a global level. In conclusion, the Ministry of Education affirms that this strategic collaboration transcends being merely an annual competition; it has become a cornerstone in investing in young minds and guiding them towards innovation, transforming national talents into formidable forces capable of making a difference in international scientific forums.
