Qatar students get set for World Science Day

By Peter TownsonStaff Reporter

Lisa Faith, the 13-year old student from Compass International School, who is an ambassador for the first World Science Day to be launched on Wednesday

As the World Education Games begins this afternoon, a number of schools across Qatar will participate in the online learning competitions in mathematics and spelling, as well as the inaugural science competition over the next three days.In Qatar, the Compass International School is the ambassador school for the games, and 13-year-old student Lisa Faith is the individual ambassador for the event, responsible for creating a buzz around the launch of the first World Science Day.The competition involves some 5.5mn students from more than 200 countries and territories across the world, and is open to children aged between 4 and 18.  It also raises money for charity, through the Unicef ‘Schools for Schools-in-a-Box’ initiative.Today is World Spelling Day, while World Maths Day takes place tomorrow, ahead of the launch of the first World Science Day, and all the events take place between 2pm and 5pm in Qatar to coincide with other students around the world.Stuart Keens, maths teacher at Compass, says the games and the online platform provide a valuable resource for teaching young people, as they help to create a sense of fun and excitement around learning.“The programmes celebrate learning and they offer a very good way for teaching students today,” he said, adding “learning is hard at the best of times, if we can get things that kids will buy into, then we are onto an absolute winner.”“It is actually fun for kids and offers a great, personalised, individual learning service for each child,” he explained.A number of locally-based international schools have taken part in the games already, but Keens expressed his hope for all schools in Qatar to participate in future events, urging students to register for the games online at www.worldeducationgames.com before 2pm today to compete in the games and have the chance to win a large selection of prizes.Keens said that he was proud that Compass had been chosen as the event’s ambassador for Qatar, and explained that he had put forward Lisa to be the ambassador for the school based on the strength of her application for the role.The chosen student also spoke to Gulf Times yesterday about how much the World Education Games has helped her and her fellow schoolmates in their studies so far, and her excitement at the launch of the first World Science Day this week.“It seemed like a good opportunity and I like organising things and speaking to people so I wanted to do it,” she said.The student, from Sweden, explained that she enjoyed learning through playing games, and believed it was a good idea for other people her age to take part in the coming days’ events.“It’s really good fun and I think that every single school should get involved,” said Faith, adding “all of us enjoy using our computers and playing games so this is a really good way to learn.”She has also been raising awareness about the launch of World Science Day around her school by hosting assemblies across different age groups, and raising the profile of the event through various activities, including her online blog.The youngster has been in Qatar for three years, and she said that she enjoys living and studying in a country other than her own for a number of reasons.“There are many more opportunities here, and it is really interesting getting to meet people from all over the world every day,” she said. And competing in the games allows for a similarly diverse experience, as it pits students against their peers across the globe.“Everyone in my school really likes the programme, and we are all looking forward to the games,” added Faith.