SA schools can now compete in World Education Games

For the first time South African learners and schools will be able to compete in the World Education Games taking place from 6-8 March 2012. Individual learners or classes will be able to test their spelling, maths and science skills and compete in live challenges in real time against learners from all over the world using the online World Education Games website.

1 Mar 2012

Sydney in Australia has been selected to host this year's event which will involve 5.5 million students from over 200 countries.

"Following the local success of the SA Maths Challenge and World Maths Day, 3P Learning is excited to bring the additional spelling and science challenges to local learners and schools," says Rob Masefield, general manager of 3P Learning. "It is always great to see learners of all ages,
backgrounds and abilities having the opportunity to improve the speed and accuracy of subjects in a fun, interactive way."

Start practising

Registered learners between the ages of four and 18 already have the opportunity to start practising. "The practice rounds are aimed at getting participants excited about learning and the upcoming challenge and to also give students in each school an opportunity to see how they measure up against the best," says Masefield. World Spelling Day will take place on 6 March, World Maths Day on 7 March, and World Science Day on 8 March.

On World Maths Day, students progress through five levels of difficulty in arithmetic and mental computation, and earn one point for every correct answer. Similarly, on World Spelling Day learners progress through five levels of difficulty based upon word complexity and context, earning one point for every correct answer. World Science Day is slightly different with three levels of difficulty within each challenge. The easier knowledge questions are worth one point, and the harder application and reasoning questions worth two or three points.

A unique approach to science

"The questions within each challenge take a unique and provocative approach to science, designed to foster curiosity and excitement, while helping students improve their ability to answer knowledge, application and reasoning questions," adds Masefield.

South Africa has appointed three 2012 World Education Games Ambassadors - Omar Akoob from the Metropolitan Raucall School in Gauteng, Ansoné Lombard from the Bloemhof School in Stellenbosch, and Dean Schmidt from Fourways High School in Gauteng. They will be representing South Africa on the world stage leading up to and during the challenge, promoting the values and spirit of the events in our country.

Entries close on the day before the event but learners and teachers can go to www.worldeducationgames.com to register and take part.