The Financial Practitioners Development Trust, in partnership with the KZN Financial Literacy Association and the KZN Department of Education, has once again joined forces to help promote financial literacy in our next generation of decision-makers by running the 20th annual Speech Contest on Finance, 2015.
The contest is open to all Grade 11 KZN pupils who are taking mathematics and a minimum of two business commerce and management (BCM) subjects, which include accounting, business studies and economics.
Entrants, and their schools, stand a chance to win fantastic prizes including laptops, tablets, data projectors and stationery.
The grand prize includes a bursary to study towards a Bachelor of Commerce Finance Degree, which covers tuition fees for the duration of the degree, and is sponsored by the Financial Planning Institute.
This project aims to improve financial literacy in schools, while creating awareness around consumer rights and available support systems.
Introducing the concept of insurance as an investment for all individuals is an important message of the campaign.
KZN Financial Literacy Association believes it is better to teach people financial literacy while still young; in this way the youth can share their knowledge with parents and friends alike and develop good financial habits during their formative years.
The competition hopes to promote and attract pupils to careers in the financial services industry, while also encouraging the prospect of entrepreneurship.
The process of researching, writing and delivering these speeches will be an efficient way to integrate the theory and practice of financial literacy and better equip the youth in shaping a secure financial future.
Pupils can choose from a list of topics which include; “Planning my financial future, who can help me?”; “I wanna make my own money, my own way”; and “So, you want to sell me a financial product?”
This year marks the 20th annual Speech Contest in Finance and will see pupils compete at different levels including school, ward, circuit and district levels.
The competition will take place for school pupils in KZN with the schools’ finals being held on June 26.
These winners will proceed to further rounds of adjudication until they reach the provincial finals, to be held on October 23.
Following the provincial finals, the top three pupils from KZN will battle it out at the Bi-Provincial Finals on November 6.
Accommodation and transport for all finalists will be funded by the Financial Practitioners Development Trust and the Curriculum Grades 10-12 Directorate at Head Office to ensure a fair process for all worthy candidates.
For further information, Sithembiso Tshabalala, the Project Manager from KZN Department of Education, can be contacted on 031 274 5728 or 082 979 9153.
