Reserve Bank launches 2020 Monetary Policy Schools challenge

More than 300 learners from 82 schools from over the province took part in the Limpopo briefing round of the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) 2020 Monetary Policy Committee Schools Challenge that was hosted at Bolivia Estate on Saturday.
Presentations on the understanding of economic relationships and the monetary policy, an analysis of the current state of the economy, a justification of the outlook and repurchase rate decisions and the mandate of the SARB were delivered by SARB officials in an effort to provide insight that the learners could use in their competition entries. Essays by the teams should not be longer than
1 000 words and will be accepted until 15 May. After the finalists are announced, they will be required to do a 10 minutes’ presentation by 17 July.
The winners of the competition will be announced on 28 August and will receive
R12 000 plus a computer for the first place and R9 000, R7 000, R6 000, R4 000, R3 000 and R1 500 for the runners-up. Their schools will also receive prizes of R25 000, R16 000, R12 000, R9 000, R7 000, R6 000 and R3 000 respectively.
SARB Senior Economist Susana Paulse said that the challenge is hosted by the SARB in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and that in 2014 Limpopo was the first province in the country to be included into the roll out of the programme. “The Monetary Policy Committee Schools Challenge is part of the SARB’s contribution to the economic field through its corporate social investment initiative,” SARB Oversight Specialist Darren Chamberlain added.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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