New Millennium College learners win at Reserve Bank
To many of the learners, it was a dream come true.
Five scholars from New Millennium College in Birchleigh did Kempton Park proud when they represented their school at the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last Saturday.
This competition gives Grade 12 economics learners a peek into what the SARB does. It also allows budding economists to fill the shoes of real ones. By using SARB’s data, the learners get to analyse whether South Africa’s repurchase rate should go up, down or remain the same. This national competition runs from March to June.
New Millennium College’s five participants won a leg of the Gauteng division’s question and answer category. Each learner was asked individual questions about economics, which counted towards their team’s marks. These local scholars had all the right answers and walked away with caps and power banks courtesy of the SARB.
To one scholar, Kelly Maruva (18), just visiting the SARB in Pretoria was a dream come true.
“I never imagined that I’d get to see the Reserve Bank. It’s so beautiful,” he said.
This competition also meant a great deal to Milton Kamutasa (18) who dreams of becoming an economist.
“This opportunity was a great experience. We were taught by an economist and that was the best feeling,” he said.
The group’s coordinator and teacher, Keche Elijah, is extremely proud of his students.
“I wish to see at least one of them, no, all of them, working for the reserve bank in South Africa and all over the world.” He encouraged these students to continue their good work so that others can follow in their footsteps.
Principal Bhekinkosi Ndlovu told Express that he is proud of the students, as well as their teacher. His advice to the matrics is that the sky is not the limit.
“It is up to them to keep working hard. Maybe in five years’ time, I’ll see one of them on television delivering the monetary policy.”
