Kuala Belait - Students from several schools nationwide showcased their skills in the development of technology through technical and computer programming in "Brick" and "Robolab" at the Brunei Robotic Olympiad (BRO) 2012 competition.

Yesterday saw four teams competing in the secondary school level of the Open Category and five teams taking part in the primary school level. The Regular Category, which is split into Primary level Year Four to Six, Secondary level Year Seven to Nine and Secondary Level Year 10 toll, was held earlier in the month of July.

In the primary school level of the Open Category, Team SRMA Legion of the Muhammad Alam Primary School (SRMA) won first place with their project, "School District Package Organiser". Second place went to Team YOLO of St Andrew's School with their project, "My Secret Keeper", while Sengkurong Primary School (SRS) won third place with their project, "Hadrah".

For the secondary school level of the Open Category, St Andrew's School's Team Blue Dimentions took first place with their project, "The Giraffe". Second place went to Team SMPIHM Guitarz of Pg Isteri Hajah Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM) with "Guitar Replica Medal Project" while Team Star Wars of Sayyidina Husain Secondary School (SMSH) came in third with their project, "Bull Hunter".

In the Regular category for Robot Organiser (Primary), Team Deceptikons IV of Muhammad Alam Primary School (SRMA) won first place followed by Muhammad Alam Primary School's (SRMA) Team NXT Leglo Munstren in second place while third place went to Team SRAT Megeton of Ahmad Tajuddin Primary School (SRAT) in Kuala Belait.

First place in the Robot Columbus category for Year Seven to Nine went to Team Viper of Pg Isteri Hajah Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM) in Serasa. Second place went to team SMSUA Junior Robotics of Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab Secondary School (SMSUA) and team MS-10s from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College came in third.

The Robot Van Gogh (Year 10 to Year 12) saw the team SMRIPAS FTS of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Secondary School (SMRIPAS) won first place. Team Venom of Pengiran Isteri Hjh Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM) took second place and third place went to PJN Pg Hj Abu Bakar Secondary School's Team PJN.

Present to give away the prizes was Dyg Sarimah binti Abu Bakar, the Acting Head of STEP (Science Technology and Environment, Partnership) Centre, Ministry of Education.

Dyg Sarimah in her speech said, "This year STEP has organised the Brunei Robotic Olympiad with a bit of changes in the format of competition, in line with the adaptation of the world competition's format in the World Robotic Olympiad that will be held in Kuala Lumpur end of this year."

To make sure that teachers understand the new format, she revealed, "Some 130 teachers from government and non-government schools nationwide attended a workshop this year to provide understanding and information especially for teachers who have yet to attend any training before."

Taking into account the guidelines in the SPN21 stressing the hands-on learning process to increase creativity and innovation, she said, "STEP will continue to conduct programmes such as Brunei Robotic Olympiad as one of the initiatives to attract the interest of students and produce students who are skilled and innovative."

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin