Gauteng Department of Education hosted the EMS Olympiad at Curro Parkdene on 4 September 2025, bringing together top-performing learners from the Ekurhuleni South District (D16) to compete at the provincial level.
Sponsored by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the Olympiad provided a platform for learners to showcase their skills in one of the most challenging subjects in the school curriculum.
According to Thabang Letlotlo, Subject Advisor for EMS from GDE in Ekurhuleni South, nine learners from various schools, ranging from grades seven to nine, participated in the competition.
“The Olympiad tested students’ understanding of economic concepts, financial literacy, and business management principles through a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions designed to challenge their knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
“The results showed that three learners from Grade Seven successfully progressed to the next level, while no learners from Grade Eight qualified.
“From Grade Nine, only one learner advanced to the provincial finals.”
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Letlotlo said they are proud of the learners.
“EMS is one of the most difficult subjects in school, and the learners performed very well under pressure.”
She said the successful students will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony hosted by SAICA 15 September 15, where they will be recognised for their achievements and receive awards for their outstanding performance.
“This ceremony serves not only to reward excellence but also to inspire other learners to pursue EMS and develop skills that are crucial for both academic and future career success.”
Learners themselves expressed satisfaction with the experience. Mpilonhle Habili, one of the participants, said:
“It was fine, and I really enjoyed the competition. It challenged me, but it was a good experience overall.”
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