Lankan students take top honours:

Think Quest International Competition

Over 33,000 participants from 52 countries tested their skills on a global stage in the largest ThinkQuest International Competition to date. The global competition, sponsored by the Oracle Education Foundation (OEF), challenges students to solve a real problem using their critical thinking, communication and technology skills.Participants presented solutions using a variety of technologies, including online applications and games, websites, photo essays, online blogs and journals, animations, and videos.Prizes for the winners include laptop computers, school grants, and a trip to ThinkQuest Live, the inspirational awards event in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sri Lankan students were part of two award-winning teams, including four local students, Isuru, Sakuntha, Umesh, and Viraj of Nalanda College, Colombo, created an entry called ‘Hope’.

Upali Karawita coached the award-winning team. ‘Hope’ was awarded first place in the Application Development event, 19 and under age division. The entry addressed how to rebuild a village after war by developing an educational game where players must earn money by farming and mining to repair damaged public facilities. Six local students Azeez, Umar, Jazeel, Fazal, Aakil, and Rehman Abubakar of Amal International Schools, created an entry called ‘End child labour.’ Mohammed Fazlaan coached the award-winning team.’End child labour’ was awarded second place in the Digital Media event, 19 and under age division.

“The Oracle Education Foundation is pleased to recognize all ThinkQuest International Competition participants for their outstanding achievements,” said Oracle Corporate Citizenship, Vice President Brad Saffer. “These students identified real-world problems and accepted the challenge to solve them through innovative, thought provoking solutions. Throughout the process, these students developed skills that will position them for success in the classroom and workplace,” he said.

“The ThinkQuest International Competition 2011 has opened so many new opportunities to the Sri Lankan School Community, our students and teachers,” said Education Ministry Education for Knowledge Society Project Additional Secretary and Project Director Anura Dissanayake. “Through global competitions like ThinkQuest, our teachers and students are empowered with new knowledge and international experience that will take their ICT Education to the next level,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate the winners of the ThinkQuest International Competition from Sri Lanka. It’s a pleasure to see these students being recognized for their hard work in creating projects that address key social issues,” said Oracle South Asia Growth Economies - West Managing Director Ahsen Javed.