Kiwi kids help set new world record

Kiwi kids help set new world record

Tens of thousands of Kiwi kids and their teachers have added, subtracted, multiplied and divided their way to a new world record.

They’ve spent all Wednesday and Thursday challenging other students around the world in quick-fire 60 second online maths games as part of the world’s biggest education event - World Maths Day 2010.

We are now awaiting confirmation that a new Guinness World Record for the Largest Online Maths Competition has been set, with students from over 230 countries around the world involved.

Final results are still being verified and collated, but classes from Devon Intermediate in New Plymouth and Upper Moutere School near Motueka have placed within the Top 50 classes in the world in the 9-13 age category.

Rob Haddock, Principal of Tahuna School, has taken out New Zealand’s top honours in the over 18 category for Teachers and Parents, although he noted that his final score was nowhere near that of his son, who was in the 9 - 13 age category.

“It’s a fantastic performance from our Kiwi kids once again, and I congratulate them all for giving it their very best” said Yvonne Blanch, the New Zealand CEO of 3P Learning, the company that hosts World Maths Day. “2010 has more than exceeded our expectations. We’ve managed to break the world record set last year, with a record number of students from around the world correctly answering 479,732,613 questions over the 48 hour period.”

“We have had amazing feedback from schools about the enthusiasm World Maths Day has generated around maths in their schools. Students are showing a real passion for numbers and over the 48 hours they’ve shown an increase of both speed and accuracy in answering basic maths questions,” said Yvonne Blanch.

Once results have been verified, calls will be made to the top New Zealand place-getters in each category to attend a live playoff at the Planet2010 Conference at SkyCity in Auckland on 13 March.

Students around the world are already looking forward to next year’s challenge. In 2011 the World Education Games will be hosted in Auckland. New Zealand students will be able to welcome the young people of the world to compete in expanded format challenges over the course of a month, incorporating World Maths Day, World Spelling Day and World Science Day.

“Plans are already underway to make the very first World Education Games an event to remember” said Yvonne Blanch “and I’m thrilled and proud that New Zealand has been chosen to host this prestigious event.”

ENDS