Tshabalala bags third place in provincial competition
Tshabalala said it was a pleasure to be chosen by his classmates to be the one who would represent the school
Kgothatso Tshabalala, an Ivory Park Secondary School learner, wins big in The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) provincial level competition on September 20.
The competition is hosted by FSCA and Financial Planning Institute of South Africa. Ivory Park Secondary School advanced to the provincial stages after they we awarded the first position in district level. Morongwe Mlotywa and Thatho Maleka, both teachers, worked with Kgothatso throughout to the final stages.
The FSCA is responsible for market conduct regulation and supervision. FSCA aims to enhance and support the efficiency and integrity of financial markets and to protect financial customers by promoting their fair treatment by financial institutions, as well as providing financial customers with financial education.
Mlotywa said basically the competition focuses on educating learners about independence in business and only includes Grade 11 learners who are doing business studies.
“The competition has three stages of which is the internal battle, district level, and provincial level. From the school, learners compete to have one representative from the school.
“In district level we went to win position one and then we progressed to the provincial level. In the provincial stage we won position three and was awarded R15 000. Half of the prize wen to the school and the other half to Kgothatso. The school channels the money towards the financial literacy competitions.”
Mlotywa also added that for them going as far as provincial level means a lot because they had to compete with the best best schools in the province.
“We had to work extra hard preparing for our presentations. At some point we had to stage Kgothatso an audience so he could get used to a crowd. We are grateful to teacher Maleka who worked hard with the learners and preparing them,” said Mlotywa.
“We had lots of support from different teachers and facilitators. We have also grasped something from the judges, more especially on how to present information to an audience.
“It’s a good journey to be part of because learners do research and give a lot of information that changes our minds about formulas and spending money. At the end it is not about the competition because as individuals we get to learn from the learners’ presentations.”
“Mlotywa and I had to work on the content of the speeches because we needed relevancy to win. We had to balance his tempo because he is someone who speaks fast at times. I was there to encourage him not just as his mentor, but a teacher, a friend and adviser,” said Maleka.
“On his journey to the finals he excelled. I feel like a winner with him because when he joined the debating team he was reluctant to do it. I had to convince his mom to encourage him.
Tshabalala said it was a pleasure to be chosen by his classmates to be the one who would represent the school because they did not only believe in him, but they made him believe in himself.
“Through the competition I had to do a lot of research and prepare in every way possible. Reaching the level we did not only taught me about finances and independence as a business person, but it also showed me how to be strategic and plan your finances properly.
“We had it tough in the final stage. My message to every learner who has potential to reach greater heights is that they need just one person who believes in them and support them through thick and thin,” said Tshabalala.
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