Pupils participate in accounting olympiad

The Sage Pastel Accounting Olympiad took place on May 13 in Johannesburg.

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes.

High schools throughout the country wrote the SAICA-Sage Pastel Accounting Olympiad on the day.

The SAICA and Sage Pastel organised the olympiad, which was open to grade 11 and 12 pupils. This year, 4 150 pupils from 315 schools entered the olympiad.

The olympiad, which began as a regional competition in Bloemfontein with long-time sponsors Sage Pastel Accounting, was expanded to a national competition in 2010.

It has since grown and now attracts top, young accounting students in schools across South Africa.

Gugu Makhanya, the project director for transformation, growth and professional development at SAICA said, “More pupils and teachers are beginning to appreciate the impact the Olympiad has on improving accounting skills.”

Moreover, the total prize value of the competition was R245 000, and the national winner received a tablet device. In addition, the accounting teachers of the provincial winners received a cash prize of R2 000.

The objective of the olympiad is to recognise accounting talent and to encourage the subject among high school pupils, in line with the SAICA strategy to grow the number of chartered accountants as well as transform the profession.