Mojokerto, Al-Amin — The Islamic education community in Mojokerto has once again achieved a proud accomplishment. Muhammad Ilmi, a student at the Madrasah Aliyah (MA) of the Al-Amin Islamic Boarding School in Mojokerto, successfully won the title of First Runner-Up in the Mathematics Olympiad for high schools (SMA), Islamic high schools (MA), and vocational high schools (SMK) across East Java.
This prestigious competition began with an online preliminary round on October 14, 2026, which was attended by approximately 200 participants from various regions, including Mojokerto and Jombang. After advancing from the preliminaries, the final round was held in person at the PCNU Mojokerto Hall on October 17, 2026.
Behind this success, Ilmi admitted that he only had about three days to prepare for the final round due to the short notice of the announcement. During his study process, he was guided by his mentor, Ustadzah Novi, and relied on self-study through YouTube and artificial intelligence (AI).
Ilmi cited solid geometry and trigonometry as the most challenging topics. Although she felt nervous at the start of the exam, she managed to stay calm as time went on. She dedicated this victory specifically to her parents, who have always supported her every positive decision, as well as to Ustadzah Novi for her guidance, which was extremely helpful.
In closing, Ilmi shared an inspiring message for her younger classmates who often avoid math. “Don’t be afraid of math—it’s actually fun because it has so many applications in our daily lives. And if you’re good at math, it can help you solve many of life’s problems,” she said.
