BENEFÍCIOS DA OBMEP: A IMPORTÂNCIA DA AMPLA DIVULGAÇÃO E IMPACTO NA VIDA DOS PARTICIPANTES

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the importance of disseminating the benefits offered by the Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad (OBMEP) and its impact on the academic and personal trajectories of students, focusing on participants from the state of Tocantins. The research was motivated by the author's personal experience as a medalist and scholarship holder linked to the Olympiad. It was conducted through an electronic questionnaire answered by 106 participants, in addition to on-site visits to two public schools in Araguaína–TO. The data collected revealed that most respondents were unaware of the benefits provided by OBMEP, such as scientific initiation scholarships, training programs, and facilitated access to higher education institutions. The majority stated that they would have prepared more for the Olympiad had they been aware of these opportunities beforehand. The results confirm that active dissemination of OBMEP's benefits can enhance student engagement and contribute to improving mathematics education. The study also includes the development of a lesson plan proposal based on a real OBMEP question, as a way to support teachers in training and encourage the pedagogical use of the Olympiad in schools.