NZ Student Top of the World in World Maths Day 2011

Media Release 3 March 2011

New Zealand Student Top of the World in World Maths Day 2011

Mason F, a student from Sherwood Primary on Auckland’s North Shore, has taken out top place in the 8 – 10 year old category of the 2011 World Maths Day.

Other New Zealand students also performed very well over the 48 hour challenge. Evan M from Stanley Bay School came 5th in the 4 – 7 years category, Edwin from St Josephs School in Pukekohe came 3rd in the 8 – 10 years category with Willem E from the Remarkables Primary School in Queenstown taking out 6th place.

Kiwi students from Northland to Stewart Island spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday this week 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 2011. Students from NZ’s remotest school on Pitt Island, whose computers are run on power from diesel generators, enthusiastic ally participated with 2 brothers earning 25th and 45th places in the 4 to 7 year old category

“I am absolutely thrilled with how New Zealand students have risen to the challenge this year and shown the world what we can do.” said Yvonne Blanch, the New Zealand CEO of 3P Learning, the company that hosts World Maths Day. “It has been a very tough week for New Zealand but I congratulate NZ schools, teachers, parents and students who have got behind this event, challenged themselves and the world and succeeded. I have had messages of congratulations from all over the world from folk who recognise that this wee country at the bottom of the world is a force to be reckoned with – on and off the sports field!”

Over 2.4 million students from 234 countries participated in the online event correctly answering 428,598,214 questions in 60 second challenges over a 48 hour period, as long as it is 1 March anywhere in the world. New Zealand finished a very creditable 5th equal with Hong Kong in the medal tally with Malaysia first, UK second, Pakistan 3rd and Australia 4th.

2011 is the 5th year that the online World Maths Day Challenge has been held and the first year in which a New Zealand student has taken out top place. It is also the first year that UNICEF has been involved making this a global fundraising event. To date over $1.3 million has been raised by students around the world for schools and UNICEF through this event.

“This event is now embedded in the educational calendar and we have had great 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 course of World Maths Day they’ve shown an increase in both speed and accuracy when answering maths questions,” said Yvonne Blanch. “I would especially like to pay tribute to students affected by the earthquake who supported the event. I have had heart-warming messages from parents for whom continued access to World Maths Day and our Mathletics website has been a lifeline when their children have been unable to attend school. I am sure when the country results are validated and published we will find many Canterbury students featuring.”

2011 is also the first year where World Spelling Day has been celebrated with an online challenge. The same students that registered and participated in World Maths Day are now competing in the world’s biggest online spelling challenge at www.worldspellingday.com

World Maths Day and World Spelling Day are philanthropic events developed, organised and hosted by 3P Learning Pty Ltd.

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