Um olhar sobre a OBMEP: impactos da Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática das Escolas Públicas nos anos finais do ensino fundamental II

Abstract

This research focuses on analyzing the impact generated by the Brazilian Public School Math Olympiad (Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática das Escolas Públicas, OBMEP) on the final years of elementary school, specifically in the 8th and 9th grades. The scope encompasses the evaluation of OBMEP's effectiveness as a catalyst for the study of mathematics and the identification of early mathematical aptitudes. The methodological approach includes a detailed bibliographic investigation, outlining the historical evolution, objectives, and methods of OBMEP. The results reveal a positive and statistically significant influence on average math scores in this educational context. Notably, this effect shows a proportional correlation between school engagement in OBMEP and students' mathematical performance. Educational institutions that adopted specific pedagogical strategies focused on solving olympiad problems not only excelled in OBMEP but also recorded improvements in overall learning indexes. The results underscore the effectiveness of OBMEP in fostering interest in mathematical studies, early identification of talents in the discipline, and catalyzing substantial improvements in the mathematics teaching process. The research provides a systematic and measurable analysis of this positive impact, directly associating active participation in OBMEP with concrete advances in students' mathematical skills in the final years of elementary school. OBMEP transcends its conventional role of performance evaluation to constitute itself as an efficient tool for improving mathematics teaching in this educational stratum, instigating innovative pedagogical practices and, tangibly, positively influencing students' academic performance.