1. The Western Cape Provincial Treasury, in collaboration with Nedbank and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), invites schools to enter for the 2018/2019 Western Cape Essay Writing Bursary Competition.

2. The Bursary Competition offers Grade 11 learners in the province, taking a combination of Economics, Mathematics and Accounting as subjects, the opportunity of obtaining bursaries and other incentives to further their studies in these fields at a university.

3. A maximum of twelve bursaries, as well as a cash prize as financial assistance during their Grade 12 year, will be awarded to learners who intend obtaining a degree in Economics (e.g. B. Comm [Economics]), Accounting (e.g. B. Acc, B. Compt), Commerce (e.g. B. Bus. Science) or Mathematics at a Western Cape university.

4. The bursaries are for Grade 11 learners who excel (minimum of 60%) in at least two of the subjects Economics, Mathematics and Accounting and who qualify for entrance to a university in 2020. Entrants must be South African citizens, residing in the Western Cape, who have a good command of spoken and written English.

5. Prizes for the teachers of the winning learners:

  • A cash prize to the teacher of each of the learners who are placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
  • Cash prizes to the teacher of each of the other learners who are awarded bursaries.
6. Principals will be asked to provide the names of the teachers concerned.

7. The bursary competition aims to:

  • Promote enthusiasm for Economics, Mathematics, Accounting and career possibilities.
  • Promote knowledge and skills in Economics, Mathematics and Accounting.
  • Develop problem-solving and analytical abilities.
  • Expose learners to research methods and essay-writing skills.
  • Provide learners with access and links to the world of work.
  • Raise awareness of socio-economic issues in South Africa.
  • Develop future leaders in the fields of Economics, Mathematics and Accounting.
  • Encourage and reward excellence.
8. The timeframe for this bursary competition is from March 2018 to March 2019.

9. Please consult the following Annexure documents:

  • Annexure A : Additional important information
  • Annexure B : Essay topic (supplied only in English) with its marking rubric
  • Annexure C : The Entry form
  • Annexure D : The Guidelines for good essay writing
10. Schools should choose promising learners to participate in the competition. They will be required to write an essay of approximately 2 200 words. The rest of Grade 11 Economics learners may write an essay on the same topic to a maximum of 600 words, which will count as part of the research project for the School Based Assessment.

11. A team of teachers at the school will use the assessment rubric provided to choose the top two performers who fulfil the minimum requirement of 60% (essay and oral presentations combined) to go through to the next round of the competition. The essays and mark sheets of the top two performers and of all other learners who achieved above 60% must be submitted to the district office for assessment at district level by no later than 7 September 2018.

12. An assessment panel in each district will assess the qualifying essays from schools and choose the finalists. The 10 best essays per district will be chosen by this panel and sent through to the provincial level by 21 September 2018.

13. The twenty-six (26) best essays will be chosen by the final selection panel, consisting of representatives from Nedbank, the Provincial Treasury and the WCED.

14. A maximum of twenty-six (26) finalists will be invited to attend the final selection in Cape Town in March/April 2019 – on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. They will be required to give an oral presentation on their research findings and to respond to questions put to them by the selection panel. The Economics teachers of the finalists will be invited to accompany them. The district panel members will be invited to attend the awards ceremony on the Saturday evening.

15. Enquiries about the essay-writing and marking must be directed to the district Economics curriculum adviser.

16. Principals are requested to bring the contents of this minute to the attention of all Grade 11 Economics, Mathematics, Accounting, English and Life Orientation teachers.


SIGNED: PAD BEETS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2018:05:08

Annexure A: Additional important information  (size: 30 KB)
Annexure B: Essay topic  (size: 97 KB)
Annexure C: Entry form  (size: 109 KB)
Annexure D: Guidelines  (size: 104 KB)