Mayo students excel at National Computational Thinking Finals
Pupils from the Quay National School, Ballina, have proven themselves to be among the brightest young problem-solvers in Ireland, securing top honours at the Bebras Computing Challenge National Finals.
The event, held at Maynooth University on April 18, saw two Ballina students reach the podium in a competition that tests the logical and analytical limits of thousands of students nationwide.
Following a school-wide participation of third, fourth, fifth and sixth class students in November, 14 pupils from Quay NS were invited to the prestigious national finals.
The delegation included six pupils from the third and fourth class category and eight from the fifth and sixth class category.
There is huge delight in the school as fourth class pupil Oisín Murphy was awarded first place nationally, with class-mate Owen Lewis securing third place. Their success highlights the growing strength of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) nationally.
While many associate computers with coding, the Bebras Challenge – run by the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and the Bebras Foundation – focuses on "computational thinking'.
This is a problem-solving process that involves the following: decomposition – breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts; pattern recognition – identifying trends or similarities; abstraction – focusing on the important information only; and algorithmic design – creating step-by-step solutions.
Speaking at the event, Eljakim Schrijvers, a global leader in the Bebras international community, emphasised that these skills are not just for future software engineers but are essential 'life skills' for the 21st century. He provided parents and teachers with an overview of how these challenges prepare children to navigate an increasingly digital world.
Mr. Schrijvers encouraged other primary and post-primary schools across Mayo and Ireland to sign up for future challenges to help foster these critical thinking skills in the next generation.
Quay NS principal Seán Gallagher commented: “We are incredibly proud of all 14 participants who represented Quay National School so well in Maynooth. Seeing Oisín and Owen take home national prizes is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers. More importantly, every student who took part has developed a new way of looking at problems, which will benefit them across all subjects.”