Visit our COVID-19 site for latest information regarding how we can support you. For up to date information about the pandemic visit www.sacoronavirus.co.za.

bs-regular
bs-extra-light
bs-light
bs-light
bs-cond-light-webfont
bs-medium
bs-bold
bs-black

Community


Share knowledge. Ask questions. Find answers.

Community blog

Read our latest news and views and get to know us better

Schools championship builds critical thinking
BronyW
Senior Member

Stanbic Bank Uganda has partnered with the Ugandan government to launch a national schools championship which aims to encourage critical thinking, financial literacy, and expose children to knowledge beyond the classroom.

 

The Stanbic National Schools Championship involves more than 3000 students from 40 secondary schools nationwide. They will participate in a series of educational activities including class debates, quizzes, and dynamic group projects including a student bank simulation project.

 

The competition forms part of Stanbic Bank’s focus on CSI spending on education to foster development in the country. “We believe that healthy competition and innovativeness among students is a step forward to creating active minds which yield solutions that steer not only improved academic performance, but also solutions to moving Uganda economically forward,” says Patrick Mweheire, Stanbic Bank’s Chief Executive.

 

Uganda schools.jpgThe competition is expected to provide students with financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills. It will also improve their problem solving skills, build confidence, refine their presentation skills, and equip them with critical and creative thinking skills. There are also amazing prizes to be won individually and for winning schools, including an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa, a solar system for the winning school, ipads, books and internships with Stanbic, teacher training programmes, and books for school libraries.

 

“The Ministry of Education is doing everything it can to ensure that students receive the best curriculum of study. A project such as the Stanbic National School Championships tweaks the minds of students to prepare beyond what they might have studied,” says Benson Kule, Uganda’s Commissioner for Higher Education.

“The contribution of the private sector to education is respected and needed if we are to adopt higher education as a key step in driving growth in the country. Through this project, the ministry expects schools to breed excellence and cultivate co-operation among students, but most all, we hope that it will teach students resilience and confidence.”

 

Patrick says the importance of education cannot be underestimated if communities are to achieve development and self-sustainability. “As the world continuously evolves, so does education. The more knowledge we acquire, the better we are placed to compete favourably while keeping pace with changing times. As a leading financial institution we value this concept and believe education is a key driver of growth,” he said. Cathy Adengo, the Head of Communications and CSI at Stanbic Bank explained the competition as follows:  “All regions are represented in the National School Championships. We will have 10 schools from each region. The top schools will battle for the championship in the national finals [in April].”

 

“There will be regional launches to officially kick off the competition. Students and schools will be engaged in both an essay and quiz competition, which will then be evaluated to select the winners from each region. “Students will also be given a student bank simulation project aimed at imparting knowledge about banking, while at the same time stimulating financial literacy. At this stage, we will have chosen four schools that will go to the final competitions.”