The National Centre for Technological Innovation (NCTI) has successfully wrapped up its second annual Virtual Robotic Competition, with Charles Adams Anglican High School (CAASHS) and Mountain View Adventist Academy emerging as the top performers in their respective categories.
Mountain View Adventist Academy claimed first position in the Greenhorn section — reserved for teams entering the competition for the first time — while Charles Adams Anglican High School took top honours in the Advanced category, which features teams with prior competition experience.
The competition, which drew a total of ten teams across both categories, challenges students to think critically and work collaboratively as they write code in the ROBOT C language to manoeuvre a virtual robot through a series of tasks — all in real time, with no outside assistance beyond their teammates and their own ingenuity.
Beginners Category Final Standings:
🥇 1st — Mountain View Adventist Academy
🥈 2nd — St. Joseph Convent Marriaqua
🥉 3rd — Bequia Seventh-day Adventist
Advanced Category Final Standings:
🥇 1st — Charles Adams Anglican High School
🥈 2nd — Bishop’s College Kingstown
🥉 3rd — Mountain View Adventist Academy
The road to victory was far from easy for the champions. CAASHS team leader Elinora Bynoe revealed that her team faced significant hurdles throughout their preparation, including an incomplete IT lab, limited working computers, and restricted practice time as the available machines were shared with other subjects.
“Nevertheless, we worked tirelessly on afternoons with the support of our parents and our teacher, Ms. Bynoe, to get where we are,” Bynoe said.
A similar story of determination unfolded at Mountain View Adventist Academy, where students also put in extra hours under the guidance of their Information Technology teacher, Mr. Noah Horne.
NCTI Chief Executive Officer Mr. Petrus Gumbs said the programme was designed with a clear purpose — to build comfort and confidence in problem solving, programming, and teamwork among young participants. He noted that NCTI is working closely with the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Department to increase the number of schools involved in coding and technology.
“Our country is moving ahead fast into this technological era, and we want students to be comfortable working with various technologies,” Gumbs said. He added that NCTI takes responsibility for training students who may be new to or unfamiliar with coding, ensuring that no school is left behind due to a lack of prior experience.
Gumbs also used the occasion to express gratitude to all sponsors who made the competition possible, with a special word of appreciation for KCCU, which continues to serve as the Platinum Sponsor of the programme.