YANGON students have won the top prizes in the country’s first national competition to encourage the development of computer projects to aid education.

The top prize in the teacher’s category also went to Yangon.

The prize winners received their awards at a ceremony held at MICT Park on September 26.

A group of Grade Eight students at the Teachers Training College in Yangon won first prize in the category for basic education primary and middle school students, which attracted 107 entries.

Maung Hein Htet Wai, Maung Aung Thant and Maung Ye Myat Minn, who call themselves the Cyber Warriors, based their entry on a lesson from a Grade Eight English text book, The King’s Nightingale.

“We created our project using PowerPoint and Flash applications,” said Maung Hein Htet Wai.

“We are delighted that our project won the prize in our category,” said Maung Aung Thant, adding that it had taken the group a week to complete the project.

Ma Pyayt Phyo Pai and Ma Theint Theint Thu, Grade10 students at the Basic Education High School No.2 in Sanchaung township, won the prize in the basic education high school category, which attracted 56 entries.

“Our project is about cell structures, which are part of our Biology studies,” said Ma Theint Theint Thu. She said the teaching aid used Myanmar and English dialogue.

Ma Pyayt Phyo Pai said several photographs had been downloaded from the internet to make the project more interesting.

Daw Aye Myint, a senior assistant teacher at the Basic Education High School No.1 in Dagon township, won the prize in the teacher’s category.

“My project is about hydrogen production, part of the Grade 11 Chemistry curriculum,” Daw Aye Myint said.

“I intend to use it to teach my students to provide them with a better understanding of the subject,” she said.

Daw Aye Myint said her entry, one of 63 in the category, was created using computer applications such as Flash and Adobe Photoshop and was also aimed for self-learners.

By the September 11 deadline, 226 entries from government schools throughout the country were received for the competition, organised by the Myanmar Computer Industry Association in collaboration with the Myanmar Computer Federation and the Ministry of Education.

The top 10 entries in each category were displayed at a three-day exhibition which began at MICT Park on September 24.

Each winning entry was awarded K100,000 and about K120,000 worth of cards for the Sky Sports satellite channel.

Two entries awarded merit prizes received K50,000 each. The 30 finalists also received gifts provided by 13 ICT companies.

The chair of the association, U Aung Zaw Myint, said the winning entries would also be awarded certificates.