New academic competitions for New Zealand students

Measuring children’s progress in New Zealand schools has become more distinctly and competitively Kiwi.

For many years, New Zealand school students have participated in the Australian mathematics, English and science competitions.

This year, the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at the University of Canterbury (UC) has launched the Great KIWI English, mathematics and science competitions for New Zealand primary, intermediate and secondary schools.

Dr John Boereboom, who is the centre’s director, has taken the initiative to offer a Kiwi alternative to the “Aussie” competitions. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer the Great KIWI competitions. The uptake has been very encouraging with thousands of students participating throughout the country. These online competitions are designed by New Zealand teachers for New Zealand students, based on the New Zealand curriculum.”

All students will be awarded a certificate and top students will be presented with a prize sponsored by UC.  The online competitions will be run in the last two weeks of term two. Different classes or groups can participate in the competition at different times during this period to give schools flexibility in running the competition.