The Western Cape Provincial Treasury, in collaboration with Nedbank and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), hereby invites schools to enter for the 2009 Western Cape Economics Essay Writing Competition.
| 1.1 |
Nedbank has been actively involved in community upliftment and improvement in the past few years as part of its Social Responsibility Programme.
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| 1.2 |
In this regard Nedbank has been co-ordinating the Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition on a national basis.
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| 1.3 |
Due to the success of the competition, the Western Cape Education Department and Provincial Treasury have approached Nedbank to assist and partner with them in the co-ordination of the essay writing competition on a provincial level.
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| 1.4 |
The competition will be sponsored and funded by Nedbank.
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| 1.5 |
Participation in this competition will offer Grade 11 Economics learners the opportunity to access bursaries and other incentives in order to further their studies in Economics, Accounting and Mathematics fields at tertiary level.
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| 2. |
The objectives of this competition:
Through this competition the Provincial Treasury seeks to:
- Raise awareness of socio-economic issues in SA
- Develop future leaders in the fields of Economics, Mathematics and Accounting
- Promote the application of knowledge and skills in Economics, Mathematics, and Accounting
Note: Teachers are encouraged to use this essay as the Research Project, as part of the Economics Programme of Assessment task for the participating learners.
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| 3. |
Time frame and levels of participation
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| 3.1 |
This competition will run from June 2009 to March 2010.
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| 3.2 |
Adjudication will take place at three levels, viz. school level, district level and provincial level
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| 4.1 |
The competition is open to Grade 11 learners who offer Economics, Mathematics and Accounting.
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| 4.2 |
These learners should perform at a minimum level of 5 (60%) in at least two of these three subjects in order to participate in this competition.
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| 4.3 |
In addition learners identified for participation should already in Grade 11 be performing at a level which will ensure university entrance at the end of Grade 12 in 2010.
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| 4.4 |
Learners scoring 70% and above in the essay and oral presentation as a combined score, will qualify to participate at the next level.
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| 5.1 |
Adjudication at school level will be done by a team of teachers, appointed by the principal, consisting of at least 3 teachers (including the Economics, English Home Language and Mathematics or Accounting teachers). They will use the analytical rubric provided for this purpose. The essays and mark sheets of all learners achieving above 70% must be submitted to the education district office for assessment at district level.
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| 5.2 |
Adjudication at district level will be done by a team of curriculum advisers consisting of the Economics, English Home Language and Mathematics or Accounting curriculum advisers. The ten best essays (with the mark sheets) per district will be sent through for adjudication at provincial level.
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| 5.3 |
Twenty (20) provincial finalists will be identified by the final selection panel, which will consist of representatives from Nedbank, the Provincial Treasury and the WCED.
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| 5.4 |
Fifteen (15) finalists will be invited to attend a final selection process to be held in Cape Town during September 2009. Here they will be required to do an oral presentation of their research findings and to respond to questions from the adjudication panel. The number of awards will depend on the final performance of each of the finalists.
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| 6. |
Awards
The winners will each receive a three-year bursary for tertiary studies in Commerce at any approved Western Cape University, as well as a cash prize as financial assistance during their Grade 12 year.
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| 7. |
Information brochures will be provided to schools at the beginning of the third term with full particulars on the essay topic, the assessment rubric, and entry requirements. Guidelines for good essay writing can be accessed by teachers and learners on the WCED Curriculum Economics website: http://curriculum.pgwc.gov.za/site/33/page/view/1442
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| 8. |
Learners are encouraged to study and apply these guidelines in order to ensure good performance in the competition.
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| 9. |
Principals are requested to bring this to the attention of all Grade 11 Economics, Mathematics and Accounting teachers.
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SIGNED: SM NAICKER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:06:26
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