A five minute speech on money matters has earned Grade 11 KZN pupils valuable prizes at the Final Round of the KZNFLA 2015 TALK MONEY Speech Contest at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre last Friday
Matthew van der Meer (Glenwood High) walked away with a bursary from the Financial Planning Institute to study financial planning. Hot on his heels, was Siphelele Mkhize from Estcourt High, who won a bursary to study B Comm, sponsored by Richfield, Graduate Institute of Technology. Hailing from the host district, Asanda Cele from Mthusi High School, who clinched third place.
In fourth place was Newcastle’s very own Nozipho Nomvelo Mbatha from Hope High School.
The top three winners, as well as the other nine district finalists each received a tablet and goodie bag.
Matthew’s Van der Meer’s speech “I wanna make my own money, my own way,” has also earned his school a laptop and data projector, while the other participants each earned data projectors for their respective schools.
“The standard has been increasing dramatically over the past five years and we are very impressed with the quality of work by the pupils, their teachers and subject advisors,” said chief adjudicator, Lyndwill Clarke of the Financial Services Board.
He also announced the Financial Services Board will replicate the competition in Gauteng in 2016, working with the KZNFLA.
Founder of the competition, Artwell Hlengwa, who is also KZNFLA Trust Chair, said the competition was initially started to address the general public’s lack of knowledge about financial products and to start financial education while children are still at school. “The shortage of certified financial planners is of great concern. No wonder that so many people cannot spend their money properly,” he said.
The competition has been designed to encourage careers in finance and in financial planning and entrepreneurship in particular. At the same time it promotes financial literacy in schools and creates awareness of consumer rights and available support, integrating theory and practice as an important principle of the National Curriculum Statement.
KZNFLA Executive Director, Christi Naudé, lauded all partners and sponsors and in-kind contributors, who made the competition possible.
