Boy, 9, goes to varsity

2007-08-23 14:09

Hong Kong - A nine-year-old maths prodigy was on Thursday admitted to a Hong Kong university, telling reporters he struggled to communicate academically with his own age group.

March Boedihardjo, an Indonesian-Chinese boy resident in Hong Kong, earlier this month gained two grade As and a B in his A-levels - normally taken by 18-year-olds - enough for a place at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).

He will begin his mathematics undergraduate course in September, the university authorities said. Earlier reports said another university in Hong Kong had turned him down.

The precocious youngster was presented to the media on Thursday and spoke in both Cantonese and in English, toying with the microphone and yawning as photographers light bulbs flashed around him.

Asked what he does in his spare time, he said: "Most of the time, I like to read books, but on the weekends I like to go out to play with friends," adding they play chess, Monopoly and cards.

"We can play games together but academically, we can't communicate."

Asked why he had not gone to school in the United Kingdom, he replied in English, "because my father does not have sufficient money".

The university has designed a special five-year course for Boedihardjo, leading to a masters degree, the authorities said.

Tony Boedihardjo, March's father, said the university had given him confidence they could cope with the particular demands of the nine-year-old.

"I am reassured that HKBU's distinctive whole-person education and its reputation for academic excellence will help March develop his talents in a complete way," he said.

Franklin Luk, president of HKBU, said the decision to admit the youngster was based on a "commitment to nurturing gifted students".

"Despite his age, March has achieved excellent examination results and also expressed himself admirably in our interviews," he told reporters.

"Therefore, following our initial assessment, we consider that it is suitable for him to pursue his studies at university level."

- AFP