Mathematics teachers' opinions on national and international mathematics competitions

Purpose: This study aims to examine the views of teachers working in public and private middle and high schools in Eskişehir regarding national and international mathematics competitions. Method: The research was conducted using the case study design, one of the qua-litative research methods. Data were collected through a semistructured interview form. A total of 90 teachers from public and private schools in the central districts of Eskişehir were interviewed to gather their opinions on national and international mat-hematics competitions. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive analysis Findings: The findings indicate that teachers believe national and international mathematics competitions play an important role in increasing students' interest in mathematics. However, teachers stated that participation in such competitions is often limited due to time and resource constraints. Furthermore, the majority of teachers emphasized the importance of focusing on the development of analytical thinking and problem-solving skills while preparing students for these competitions. Conclusion and Recommendations: This research reveals that while participa-tion in national and international mathematics competitions provides significant bene-fits for students, teachers face certain challenges in the process. Teachers recommend integrating these competitions into the teaching process and creating more opportuni-ties to inform students about them. In order to make national and international mathe-matics competitions more effective in mathematics education, it is suggested that te-achers be trained in this area, their awareness of competitions be increased, and curri-cula be integrated with such events. Additionally, it is emphasized that schools should be provided with resources and teachers should be supported in time management.