21 Aug 2018

Teams who won first, second and third positions at the sixth annual Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) Senior Secondary Schools Finance and Investment competition have been accorded the opportunity to use their prize vouchers to invest at BSE-listed companies.

Lobatse Senior Secondary School retained the title since the school won the completion last year while Nata Senior Secondary School and Matsha College obtained second and third positions respectively.

Deputy Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Basic Education Mr Simon Coles expressed hope that the reward would motivate the students to be participants in the stock market and also demystify the misconception that the stock market is not for the rich.

Mr Coles applauded the BSE initiative, saying it fitted appropriately into the national vision and complementary role it played in promoting financial literacy and inclusion.

He said the motive was a testament to the BSE and government belief that when one is empowered through education they are empowered to lead a better and successful life.

“In the context of this completion, an educated investor is in a better position to make sound investment decisions.

As students, you are fortunate that this tool of educational empowerment is being deployed to your advantage at a grassroot level.

This will go a long way in harnessing your future and in building a better, well informed Botswana,” he said.

Mr Coles was of the view that consumers who can make informed decisions about financial product and services have the potential to establish households that can adequately and sustainably use their financial resources to enjoy dignified lives.

He applauded teachers around the country for the efforts they made to make the competition a success, saying Botswana’s future rested in the hands of the youth.

He further challenged students and the community who had the privilege of gathering knowledge and exposure beyond their curriculum to be exemplary in their financial conducts, adding that it would not only help them as individuals, but also reduced the future burden on government of having to fulfil their financial needs.    

Meanwhile Lobatse Senior Secondary School received a floating trophy and each student got P2 500.

Nata Senior Secondary School students won P1 500 each while Matsha College students got P1 000 each.

Patron of Lobatse Senior Secondary School students Mr Moagi Digwa encouraged other students to always do their best, noting that hard work pays.

Botswana stock Exchange chief executive officer, Mr Thapelo Tsheole said the competitions, which are an annual event, aim to encourage and teach financial literacy in  participating schools.

He said the competitions started with essays followed by a quiz.

He said his company had a strong interest in education to spread the message of what is happening in the market.  ENDS