FOR the second year, a pupil from the eShowe High School has been on the podium of the KZN Talking Money Speech Contest.
While the contest was won by Amanda Malinga of Dundee High School, eShowe High’s Mbaliyethu Magwaza came second in the contest.
The Grade 11 finalists had five minutes to convince a tough panel of adjudicators of their knowledge and insight into their respective topics.
The final round and awards ceremony was held on Friday, 17 October at the Umbumbulu Campus of the Coastal KZN FET College in KwaMakhutha.
Malinga won a bursary (up to post graduate level) to obtain a BCom degree in Financial Planning (sponsored by the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa – FPI).
This is in addition to a tablet and financial planning software.
Hot on Malinga’s heels were Magwaza who was the uThungulu District finalist, Nolwazi Naledi Zungu of Newcastle High School and Minenhle Mthembu of Ladysmith High School (representing the uThukela District) in second, third and fourth places respectively.
The competition is organised by the KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Association, Financial Practitioners Development Trust, Provincial Treasury and the KZN Department of Education.
Expanded programme
With the assistance of the KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Association, the speech contest has been extended since 2011 to Grade 11 pupils attending 1 500 public high schools in all 12 districts of KZN.
Caroline da Silva, CEO of the Financial Services Board said the speech contest has been recognised nationally and even internationally.
She encouraged the pupils to consider careers in financial services.
The contest will be expanded to Gauteng next year.
Promoting financial literacy
KZN MEC for Finance who is also Champion of the Financial Literacy Association, Belinda Scott said, ‘Less than 5% of financial advisors are certified planners.
‘This speech contest emphasises the need for certified financial planners and learners to consider careers in financial services and also explore entrepreneurship as an option.’
Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, MEC for Education in KZN, said that financial literacy is the core platform for financial inclusion and the basis for equitable and sustainable socio-economic development.
She thanked subject advisors and teachers, as well as the KZNFLA and Provincial Treasury for their role in bringing the contest together.
