Free coding challenge for NZ students thanks to WiseTech Global

Grok Academy has announced that the 2024 National Computer Science School (NCSS) Challenge will be accessible for free to all students in Aotearoa New Zealand, courtesy of support from WiseTech Global. Educators can now enrol students from Years 5 to 13 for this inclusive coding competition, set to commence on 29th July.

The NCSS Challenge is designed to introduce young individuals to coding and computational thinking. This year’s iteration includes several updates, catering to students ranging from complete beginners to advanced coders. James Curran, CEO of Grok Academy, highlighted the importance of coding, stating, "Coding is a fundamental skill for the 21st century. The NCSS Challenge provides a supportive and fun environment for students to explore coding, whether they are complete beginners or have some experience. Thanks to WiseTech Global, the Challenge is free for all New Zealand students, removing barriers to participation and promoting inclusivity in tech education, helping build a local, high-skilled workforce."

Over a five-week period, participants will have the opportunity to accumulate points and move up the leaderboard, competing with peers from both Australia and New Zealand. One notable addition in this year’s Challenge is the primer module, released before the competition starts. This module aims to familiarise students with the content and assist them in selecting the appropriate challenge. Enhanced support and guidance are also featured in the updated Newbies and Beginners Blockly streams.

The NCSS Challenge employs Python, a versatile and widely-used programming language. For intermediate learners, updates include a module on Errors and Debugging to offer a more realistic coding experience and foster resilience and problem-solving skills. Advanced learners will encounter more complex problems in the final week, allowing them to fully apply their coding abilities. The Challenge also integrates real-world problems spanning various fields, aligning with the Digital Technologies curriculum, and offers intelligent auto-marking to alleviate teacher workloads.

The NCSS Challenge was originally developed in Australia with the backing of various organisations, including Atlassian, Australian Signals Directorate, CommBank, Macquarie, NAB, Optiver, Telstra, and WiseTech Global as the Platinum sponsor.

Grok Academy encourages teachers throughout New Zealand to register their classes for the NCSS Challenge through their website. The aim is to promote digital literacy and coding education, fostering inclusivity and accessibility within the tech sector.