Essay Bursay Competition Awareness Campaign | Western Cape Government

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Essay Bursay Competition Awareness Campaign

23 September 2011

The excitement was tangible in the multipurpose centre at the Bernadino Heights Secondary School in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein as almost 300 learners from around the Cape Metropole gathered in anticipation for the Essay Bursary Competition Awareness Campaign (EBCAC) event on 24 September 2011.

The Cape Metropole and the Eden District were targeted to host 2 consecutive marketing events and the execution of each one surpassed expectations.

For the Eden District, host school George Senior Secondary School welcomed learners and educators from high schools including the Outeniqua, Parkdene, Fezekile, Knysna, Imizamo Yethu, Pacaltsdorp, Percy Mdlala, Morester, Dysselsdorp, De Rust, Beaufort West and Bastiaanse Senior Secondary schools.

Programme Director, Kosie Haarhof (Local Government Budgets) briefed learners about the competition.

“The Provincial Treasury in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department and Nedbank are providing Grade 11 Economics, Mathematics and Accounting students with the opportunity to win bursaries to the value of R64 000 each,” said Kosie.

“Your essay will only be considered if you are prepared to work hard.”

He reiterated this sentiment at the Cape Metropole event where Bernadino Heights Senior Secondary School hosted learners and teachers from South Peninsula, Zola, Elsiesriver, Kwanfundo, Malibu, Klein Nedeburg, Belhar, Mfuleni, Masiphumelele, ID Mkize, Hector Peterson, Sophumelela, Isilimela, Thandokhulu, Belgravia, Manzomthombo and Sinethemba Senior Secondary schools.

Since its inception in 2009, the competition has sponsored 12 bursaries per year.

2011 bursary winner, Charrel Roman, a George Senior Secondary learner, spoke to the learners at the Eden District event, describing her experience leading up to the event, the nerve-wracking presentation stage in the competition and the feeling of elation on being selected as a recipient of a bursary.

At Bernadino Heights Secondary School, Ruth Soloman and Craig Lucas, both previous bursary recipients, encouraged Grade 11 learners to undertake the challenge describing the experience as one they'll never forget.

“Meeting the Minister of Finance and top officials from the Provincial Treasury and Nedbank was an awesome experience,” said Ruth.

“I can’t wait to start working at the Treasury.”

The educators were acknowledged for their integral role in the competition and the Western Cape Education Department's Lodi van Deventer provided them with the technical guidelines on how best to assist their learners.

The competition closes on 7 November and with the deadline fast approaching, the EBCAC event was just what was needed to nudge these potential business leaders off the starting block.