Online competitions grow Great Kiwi learners

Students at all levels can now compete with their peers in the Great Kiwi English, mathematics and science competitions.

While New Zealand students have regularly participated in Australian competitions, a New Zealand-based competition has just been launched by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM NZ) at the University of Canterbury.

Dr John Boereboom, director of CEM NZ, says these online competitions are designed by New Zealand teachers, for New Zealand students, based on the New Zealand curriculum.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer the Great Kiwi English, mathematics and science competitions at the primary, intermediate and secondary school levels in English, mathematics and science. The uptake has been very encouraging with thousands of students participating throughout the country.

All students will be awarded a certificate and top students will be presented with a prize sponsored by the University of Canterbury.

The online competitions will be run in the last two weeks of Term Two at a time suitable to the school. Different classes or groups can participate in the competition at different times during this period to give schools flexibility in running the competition.

Schools interested in participating can register on the CEM website.