Two Bloemhof Girls High School learners take top two places nationally in the 2018 SADC Essay Competition
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate two Western Cape learners, both from Bloemhof Girls High School in Stellenbosch, for being placed in first and second place nationally in the 16th Annual 2018 South African Development Community (SADC) Secondary School Essay Competition.
They are as follows:
1st place - Anmar Brand (Grade 11)
2nd place - Jenika Foster, (Grade 11)
The topic for the SADC Secondary School Essay Competition for 2018 was "The role of the private sector in developing Industries and Regional value chains."
This topic is derived from the 37th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government which is; "Partnering with the Private Sector in developing Industry and Regional Value Chains".
Learners had to "discuss how partnerships with private sector can promote industrial growth and foster development of value chains in key priority sector (such as agriculture, mining, health etc.) among SADC member states".
Bloemhof GHS Principal, Ms Van Heerden says "We are grateful that our learners make use of excellent opportunities such as this to better themselves. The educators and I encourage them to apply the knowledge and critical thinking skills which is an integral part of their education at Bloemhof".
My hearty congratulations go to all learners who took part. I am proud of your achievements.
BACKGROUND OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) SECONDARY SCHOOL ESSAY COMPETITION
In 1995 the SADC Council of Ministers approved the establishment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secondary School Essay Competition to recognize the best work in the region. Since 1996 the SADC Secretariat has been coordinating the Secondary School Essay Competitions to encourage learners in the Region to understand the role of SADC and disseminate information on SADC in order to support the process of regional co-operation and integration.
The SADC Secretariat has allocated a sum of US $ 1000 as prize money for the national winners of the competition in each Member State. The prize money will be divided as follows:
- US $ 500 for the first prize
- US $ 300 for the second prize
- US $ 200 for the third prize
Each candidate receives the equivalent of the prize money in South African Rands. The three national winning essays are forwarded to the SADC Secretariat for consideration in the regional competition.