*** The winners of the 2011 edition have been announced! *** 

Are you interested in the role of education in developing countries? Are you interested in winning £100 or more this summer? Then read on! 

NUHA has launched its first essay competition which is open to all.  Whether you’re from Sri Lanka, Sweden or South Africa, we would like to hear what YOU have to say about how you think education should function in your country and across the world.

Why an essay competition?

The competition has been established with the twin aims of:

• Creating an international platform to debate issues relating to education and development
• Creating an opportunity to publish the work of students and of people who want to be heard
  
  

Who can enter?

Absolutely anyone!  There are two prizes this year: 

• NUHA Blogging Youth Prize (for those born in 1993 or after): £100
• NUHA Blogging Prize (for those born before 1993): £150

It doesn’t matter whether English is your first, second, third or fourth language: your article will be judged first and foremost on the quality of your argument and the originality of your ideas. 

What should I write?

Taking education and development as your starting point, write an essay of between 500 and 1,500 words in response to one of the statements below. 

Youth category:

1. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”  Nelson Mandela
2. Education is worth paying for.
3. In the 21st century, it is better to give a child a computer than a book.

General category: 

1. “Only the educated are free.”  Epictetus
2. The State should encourage access to private education.
3. "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."  Alvin Toffler
   
   

When should I enter?

The deadline for submitting an essay is closed and all publishable articles have now been posted on the NUHA blog. 

You have until 15 November 2011 to vote for your preferred articles by liking them on Facebook, tweeting about them or emailing them to your friends, and of course by debating their contents on this forum.

On 16 November 2011, the Editor will announce which published articles have been shortlisted for the Blogging Prize: 3 articles will be shortlisted based on your vote, 3 articles will be shortlisted based on how much you have been debating them, and3 articles will be shortlisted based on their intrinsic quality.  For this year's edition of the Youth Blogging Prize, there will be no shortlisting.

On 16 November 2011, the Editor will also unveil the panel of judges for each Prize, who will focus on the quality of the argument and the originality of the ideas of the shortlisted essays. 

The winners for both the Blogging Youth Prize and the general Blogging Prize will be announced on 7 December 2011.

Explore the blogging entries published so far, and comment and vote.