Winners of the Western Cape Nedbank Essay Writing Competition announced

The winners of the Nedbank, Western Cape Provincial Treasury and the Western Cape Department of Education Essay Writing Bursary Competition were announced this weekend. The top twelve finalists win an opportunity to access a bursary to an accredited tertiary institution. The overall winner wins a cash prize of R10 000, the first runner up, R7 500, the second runner up, R5000 and the remaining 17 finalists each win R2000. The top three teachers each win a laptop. Held since 2008, the awards strive to develop the next generation of mathematicians, accountants, economists and business decision-makers in the Western Cape. The Essay Writing Competition was opened in July 2012 to Grade 11 learners taking economics, mathematics or accounting as subjects from all of the 213 secondary schools in the Western Cape. In order to qualify for the competition. Entrants were required to answer the following question in an essay of a minimum of 2200 words: "Global economic growth slowed down during 2011, marked by a slower growth in both developed and emerging markets. Global growth is expected to moderate further over the short term owing to the contagion risk for the Eurozone emanating from the Greece sovereign debt challenge. Although the growth prospects in the Western Cape economy are positive there are still a number of socio-economic challenges that need to be addressed. Targeted government interventions and investment in respect of improving education outcomes of the labour force, skills development and increasing wellness amongst the population are expected to support long term and sustainable growth, which in turn will add in reducing unemployment and alleviate poverty." The 2012 Essay Writing Competition elicited great participation from learners, teachers and curriculum advisors. Following an adjudication process the top twelve winners were announced this weekend as follows:

Western Cape Minister of Finance, Alan Winde said: “Congratulations to all the winners.
I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of essays received this year.
The commitment of teachers and curriculum advisors in assisting and guiding learners was evident.
 I want to encourage all learners who have a talent and interest in maths,
accounting and economics to enter this competition when entries open later this year.
The Western Cape Government is determined to meet the skills shortage in mathematics,
accounting and economics by assisting in growing our next generation of business,
government and civil society leaders through this competition.”

Western Cape Minister of Education, Donald Grant said: "What makes the Nedbank/
Western Cape Government essay writing competition so special is its focus on maths,
economics and accounting. My time as Minister of Education has confirmed my belief
that these subjects are priority areas for advancing education (and more specifically financial literacy)
in this province because of their importance in building the future of this country. Proficiency,
especially in mathematics, also forms the basis of many of our further education and training
fields in accounting, engineering, science, technology,
economics and business - all key sectors for a growing economy such as ours. Therefore, as a government,
we are working hard to encourage our learners to take mathematics and science which are gateway subjects for the
economic development of our province and of the personal career opportunities of our learners.
We have placed a lot of resources in these subject areas and our interventions are showing signs of success."

Media Enquiries:
Phumzile Van Damme
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
Cell: 082 378 2235