Syria Launches Programming Marathon for Youth Ahead of 2025 Season
The qualifying rounds for Syria's programming marathon for children and youth, aimed at the 2025 season, commenced today. The event is organized by the Excellence and Creativity Authority in partnership with the Lifelong Learning Center at the Syrian Virtual University, attracting 842 students from various provinces.
The tests are being conducted at access centers of the virtual university located across the provinces. Each test session lasts one hour and fifteen minutes and includes questions designed to evaluate participants' programming and logical reasoning skills. Successful candidates will advance to the final qualifying rounds scheduled for October.
Ms. Dania Qabbani, Director of the Syrian Scientific Olympiad at the Excellence and Creativity Authority, stated that the marathon aims to enhance the scientific knowledge and logical analysis skills of children and youth. Participants will learn programming languages such as C++ and graphical languages like Scratch, fostering a spirit of self-improvement and analytical thinking in an innovative educational environment.
Participants are divided into two age groups: children aged 8 to 11 years (grades 2-5) and youth aged 12 to 15 years (grades 6-8).
Several students shared their thoughts on the experience. Marita Habib Ali remarked that "the competitions offer a fun and engaging way to learn, distinct from traditional curricula, blending challenge and collaboration in a stimulating environment."
Ali Munther Abdullah expressed that his goals extend beyond winning; he aims to boost his self-confidence, enhance his programming skills, and connect with peers who share his interest in technology. He also hopes to continue learning programming languages and participate in larger competitions in the future.
This marathon follows a previous stage where over 1,700 students participated in placement tests conducted last June, including 913 children and 881 youth.
The programming marathon for children and youth serves as a comprehensive educational platform, broadening participants' understanding of technological advancements and enhancing their logical thinking skills through practical programming solutions suitable for their age.
