Provincial finals of grade 11 speech contest unearths gems in finance
The Philasande Shongwe, 17, from Little Flower Combined School in Harry Gwala District, walked away with a Bursary to study towards a Post Graduate Degree in Financial Planning, tablet, an iPad, a Chairman’s Trophy as well as R1000 prize money from Clivera for coming first during the finals of the Grade 11 Speech Contest held in Ugu District.
Shongwe outwitted 10 other contestants from various districts in a contest that was celebrating its 21 year Anniversary today.
Anele Khumalo from Sunnydale Secondary School, uThungulu District, came second and won herself a three-year bursary, laptop and tablet while Nokwanda Zimu from ML Sultan High School in uMgungundlovu District came third and won herself tablet and a laptop. All contestants walked away with tablets for participating while their schools got data projectors.
After his “loot”, an elated Shongwe said ” his performance during the contest means that he is a step closer to his dream of being a Financial Planner and Entrepreneur. “I know there is still a lot of work that I need to do, but I am happy with how I am starting,” said Shongwe.
The Provincial finals were made possible through the support of various partners which include a reknowned economist Clive “Ntozabantu” Ramathibela-Smith of Clivera, KZN Provincial Treasury, KZN Department of Education, Hibiscus Coast Municipality, Financial Palnning Institute of Southern Africa, Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology, Inseta, Assupol, Metropolitan, Kapenta Bay, Morar Incorporated, Albaraka Bank, HiFI Corporation and Premier Services Raisethorpe.
The KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Association Trust was formed by KZN Provincial Treasury in a bid to roll out financial education in the province. Grade 11 Speech contest, a provincial competition, is one of the many programmes the Association has which sees 11 contestants from all districts compete under various finance-related topics. The 11 contestants are winners from various levels within their districts.
Speaking during the contest, Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Association Trust, Artwell Hlengwa, said the objective of this programme is to inculcate financial skills and planning in the minds of the learners so that they can grow and make a telling impact in developing the economy of this country.
“In an attempt to address the general public’s lack of knowledge about financial products and acknowledging the importance to start financial education while children are still at school, the Financial Practitioners Development Trust started a speech contest on finance at some schools in Ugu District, 21 years ago. Today is the continuation of an effort to build the young minds and instil financial thinking,” he said.
For more information, contact:
Artwell Hlengwa
Cell: 072 180 6644
Henry Makhathini
Cell: 082 488 8526
