Students Learn as they Teach at KZN Schools

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UKZN Finance students promoting financial literacy at KwaZulu-Natal high schools say the experience has been a learning curve for both themselves and the pupils.

Students Mr Mahomed Seedat, Mr Alex Chang, Mr Chadley Allkins, Ms Shulka Manickchund, Ms Letitia Moodley, Mr Thabang Ngubo, Mr Yatishen Naidoo and Mr Kreegan Govindsamy are all part of a mentorship programme born out of a partnership between the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The programme which has been running for three months involves the students adopting a school which they visit regularly to provide training and advice to the pupils.

This training aims to enlighten pupils on markets and stock investing which they need to know about in order to participate in the JSE Investment Challenge. 

The JSE Challenge is a national financial literacy competition which provides South African high school pupils and university students with opportunities to explore the world of investing by trading JSE-listed shares through a virtual portfolio.

Manickchund, who has adopted Glenhaven Secondary School in Verulam, described the experience as a ‘fulfilling journey that further developed her appreciation for education’.

For Ngubo, whose adopted school is Newlands East Secondary, the learning is a two-way street as the pupils’ grasp of financial concepts is empowering him with new knowledge.

‘This experience has greatly enhanced my financial knowledge because if the pupils have questions I have to ensure I have the answers,’ he said.

Allkins, whose school is Kingsway High in Amazimtoti, said the experience has been educational and rewarding, while for Naidoo, whose school is Kharwastan Secondary, the pupils’ dedication to the teaching and learning process has been the greatest reward.

‘It is wonderful to see that youngsters can commit themselves to understanding concepts that I only encountered in my third year of finance,’ he said.

2014 JSE Investment Challenge winner and finance honours student, Mr Brian Masondo, who is leading the mentors, says the main focus now is to rethink their strategies to ensure pupils don’t lose interest and are successful in the challenge.

‘Teams started off with high hopes of winning the overall challenge but have shifted their attention to the monthly challenge to increase their trading activity on the platform.  The challenge is starting to get very competitive and both the students and mentors have got the hang of it,’ said Masondo.

 Thandiwe Jumo