Primary school kids from five Bay of Plenty schools will put their new-found robotics skills to the test next week as they compete in a friendly scrimmage.

Thanks to funding from Spark Foundation, the Interschool VEX Go Robotics competition will be held at STEAM-ED in Tauranga City on Thursday, November 16 from 10am-2pm.

“Throughout the year, we have taken our VEX-Go robotics gear out to five schools each term, focusing on schools/kura in low socio-economic suburbs,” says STEAM-ED general manager Toni de Rijk.

“This has been free of charge to the schools thanks to the support of Bay Trust, NZ Lotteries COGS funding and Tauranga City Council.”

Toni estimates around 450 children have been introduced to robotics – most of whom probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity otherwise. Robotics skills promote problem solving, critical thinking, engineering and teamwork.

“Each child has received eight hour-long lessons, which has taken them from basic building right through to driving and programming their robots, complete with electromagnets, optical and touch sensors.”

To celebrate their learning during the year students from five schools – Merivale, Gate Pa, Greerton Village, Te Kura O Matapihi and Te Puke Primary – will gather for a fun competition.

“They will compete in challenges using identical robots. Each school will have three teams with two students in each team,” says Toni. 

“It’s fun for the students to work their way through the challenges. Each receives a free T-shirt as a memento of their day. We’re so grateful to our sponsors for enabling this to happen.”