About the Computer 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 was the main sponsor of the Talent Search and the Programming Olympiad.
The Olympiad receives further support from the UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, IITPSA and NFTS/PROSET
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. It became a project of the Institute of IT Professionals South Africa – funded by Old Mutual for the next 20 years.
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. By 1990 the Olympiad had 2,000 participants per year and was the biggest event of its kind in the world. By 2003 participation had grown to over 3,000 but very few from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Concerned that many learners waited to grade 11 or 12 before taking part in the Computer Olympiad, when it would be too late to make the right subject choices, an aptitude test was introduced in 2003 to cater for a wider audience. Participation again increased; to more than 11,000 in 2003, 13,000 in 2004 and 15,000 in 2005.
This round is now known as the Talent Search and attracts over 20 000 participants from schools nationwide. (See Statistics for a full list.)
To cater for the increasing number of learners who take Computer Applications Technology or Computer Literacy at schools, an additional competition was introduced in 2010. This is known as the Computer Applications Olympiad to distinguish this Olympiad from the Computer Programming Olympiad.
The INSTITUTE of IT PROFESSIONALS SOUTH AFRICA is now the main the sponsors of the Computer Olympiads since 2021.
Janestreet became the sponsor of the Computer Programming Olympiad and International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) since 2023.
Contributors
The Computer Olympiad is a project of the Institute of IT Professionals South Africa (IITPSA). Its aim is to identify, encourage, and reward programming aptitude. To this end Scientific Committees have been appointed from the department of Education, the University of Cape Town, Schools, the IITPSA and other professional fields. Some of the Scientific Commitee Members are listed below.
Donald Cook (high school teacher) 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 2007.
at WikipediaJames Gain (UCT Com Sci Professor) 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. This committee is mainly made up of past Olympiad participants.
at WikipediaMoira de Roche (IITPSA Board) 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.
at WikipediaPeter Waker (Fellow of the IITPSA) has spent all his adult life in education – the last 35 years in IT and education. He is a founding member of the Computer Olympiad and a trustee of the Olympiad Trust.
at WikipediaOur Sponsors
Computer Olympiad Entries since 1984
Year Entries Centres Competition
2020
23 479
160
Talent Search
2020
21 576
363
Applications Olympiad
2020
3 785
128
Programming Olympiad
2019
40 612
366
Talent Search
2019
16 856
356
Applications Olympiad
2019
6 842
228
Programming Olympiad
2018
37 752
328
Talent Search
2018
6 708
216
Programming Olympiad
2018
17 591
349
Applications Olympiad
2017
46 481
405
Talent Search
2017
6 708
228
Programming Olympiad
2017
17 627
348
Applications Olympiad
2016
35 899
405
Talent Search
2016
6 944
223
Programming Olympiad
2016
10 983
290
Applications Olympiad
2015
28 555
321
Talent Search
2015
4 131
197
Programming Olympiad
2015
13 193
337
Applications Olympiad
2014
31 044
317
Talent Search
2014
4 431
226
Programming Olympiad
2014
17 868
386
Applications Olympiad
2013
39 067
337
Talent Search
2013
4 751
229
Programming Olympiad
2013
17 485
356
Applications Olympiad
2012
35 613
366
Talent Search
2012
4 848
223
Programming Olympiad
2012
12 755
329
Applications Olympiad
2011
31 591
459
Talent Search
2011
2 696
187
Programming Olympiad
2011
12 943
393
Applications Olympiad
2010
37 907
438
Talent Search
2010
3 502
199
Programming Olympiad
2010
6 318
118
Applications Olympiad
2009
33 119
410
Talent Search
2009
2 776
183
Programming Olympiad
2008
22 765
361
Talent Search
2008
2 714
181
Programming Olympiad
2007
33 893
489
Talent Search
2007
3 301
214
Programming Olympiad
2006
31 926
433
Talent Search
2006
3 873
223
Programming Olympiad
2005
15 201
405
Talent Search
2005
2 575
251
Programming Olympiad
2004
12 855
432
Talent Search
2004
2 582
248
Programming Olympiad
2003
11 123
397
Talent Search
2003
2 409
239
Programming Olympiad
2002
3 056
267
Programming Olympiad
2001
3 315
291
Programming Olympiad
2000
3 999
350
Programming Olympiad
1999
3 832
352
Programming Olympiad
1998
3 832
352
Programming Olympiad
1997
4 994
391
Programming Olympiad
1996
3 784
365
Programming Olympiad
1995
3 488
370
Programming Olympiad
1994
3 198
355
Programming Olympiad
1993
3 037
314
Programming Olympiad
1992
2 681
325
Programming Olympiad
1991
2 777
323
Programming Olympiad
1990
3 004
313
Programming Olympiad
1989
1 781
250
Programming Olympiad
1988
1 874
207
Programming Olympiad
1987
1 751
273
Programming Olympiad
1986
0 611
41
Programming Olympiad
1985
0 751
37
Programming Olympiad
1984
0 701
35
Programming Olympiad
Year Entries Centres Competition