Computer Olympiad
Computer Learning in Cape Town

Although the competition is aimed at high school learners, any learner other than post-matrics may enter. The Computer Olympiad is open to all full-time learners at schools in South Africa.

The South African Computer Olympiad is one of the oldest in the world. It started in 1984 when a group of teachers approached Old Mutual for sponsorship. For the first two years, participation was less than 100 but when a two-round format was introduced in 1986, participation went over 1,000 immediately. This round is now known as the Talent Search and still attracts large numbers of participants. To cater for the increasing number of learners who take Computer Application Technology or Computer Literacy at schools, an additional competition was introduced in This is known as the Computer Applications Olympiad to distinguish this Olympiad from the Computer Programming Olympiad. Currently the South African Computer Olympiad is still one of the biggest events of its kind in the world. It is the only programming competition and the only application competition for school-age learners offered nationally. STANDARD BANK is the main sponsor of the Talent Search and the Programming Olympiad. The Olympiad receives further support from the UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN. Its aim is to identify, encourage, and reward programming aptitude. To this end a trust, the South African Computer Olympiad Trust has been established. Mike Chiles (Trustee) has been involved with ICT in Education for most of his adult life. He is currently on the board of e-Schools' Network. Donald Cook (Trustee) is a former lecturer in the Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Town. He has also been involved in the Computer Olympiad since the beginning and managed the Scientific Committee from 1995 to Paul Robson from Standard Bank is a technology executive with over 18 years’ experience in the Banking Industry. Paul is passionate about growing, and developing, the technology talent pool in South Africa. Standard Bank is the main sponsor of the Computer Olympiad. Moira de Roche (Trustee) is a Director and Past President of the Institute of IT Professionals and currently serves as Honorary Treasurer of the IITPSA. Moira made education a priority during her presidency. James Gain (Trustee) is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Town. He currently manages the Scientific Committee which sets the questions and tests the solutions. He is a founding member of the Computer Olympiad and a trustee of the Olympiad Trust. He believes that the Trust is uniquely positioned to enhance computational thinking in South Africa. His appointment in 2016 follows a career as a teacher and Chief Education Specialist in the Western Cape Education Department.