Varsity too basic, says 9-year-old

HONG KONG – The first day at university is daunting for most new undergraduates, but for nine-year-old maths prodigy March Boedihardjo it was just simply much too easy.

“It was too basic. I already learned this a year or two ago,” March told the media who gathered to witness his first day at Baptist University in Hong Kong on Tuesday.”I don’t have any motivation.I know all of it,” he added.Indonesian-Chinese March, who got two As at mathematics in his A Levels at a school in the UK, began the tailor-made five-year course in mathematical science and mathematical philosophy on Tuesday, making him the youngest student admitted to a university in the former British colony.His comments reported in the South China Morning Post yesterday were clearly aimed at quelling fears about his ability to cope at university.However, they are unlikely to endear him to his much older classmates who were instructed by the university president to act as ‘older brothers and sisters’ to their young classmate at the convocation ceremony on Tuesday.The university has already expressed concern about March feeling isolated because of the age difference and last week was reported to be exploring the possibility of collaborating with a local primary school so that he can play and study with children of the same age.At a press conference held later on his first day, March said he felt in a similar situation as to when he was studying for A levels and believed he would get used to it very quickly.The nine-year-old prodigy did his A Levels through a private tutorial college in the UK but said he didn’t enjoy his time in Britain as life there was ‘very boring’.He has a brother who is studying at Oxford University in the UK after enrolling at the age of just 13.Sapa-dpaI already learned this a year or two ago,” March told the media who gathered to witness his first day at Baptist University in Hong Kong on Tuesday.”I don’t have any motivation.I know all of it,” he added.Indonesian-Chinese March, who got two As at mathematics in his A Levels at a school in the UK, began the tailor-made five-year course in mathematical science and mathematical philosophy on Tuesday, making him the youngest student admitted to a university in the former British colony.His comments reported in the South China Morning Post yesterday were clearly aimed at quelling fears about his ability to cope at university.However, they are unlikely to endear him to his much older classmates who were instructed by the university president to act as ‘older brothers and sisters’ to their young classmate at the convocation ceremony on Tuesday.The university has already expressed concern about March feeling isolated because of the age difference and last week was reported to be exploring the possibility of collaborating with a local primary school so that he can play and study with children of the same age.At a press conference held later on his first day, March said he felt in a similar situation as to when he was studying for A levels and believed he would get used to it very quickly.The nine-year-old prodigy did his A Levels through a private tutorial college in the UK but said he didn’t enjoy his time in Britain as life there was ‘very boring’.He has a brother who is studying at Oxford University in the UK after enrolling at the age of just 13.Sapa-dpa