Interest in accounting soars, SAIPA Olympiad reveals
An increase in the number of schools that participated in the 2013 National Accounting Olympiad reflects an increasing awareness of the value of professional accounting as a career choice and the growing stature of the competition. The number of Dinaledi school rose by more than 60% in 2013, with 199 Dinaledi schools represented among the 471 schools involved, and the number of pupils who took part increased from 632 last year to 1 051 this year.
The National Accounting Olympiad is an initiative of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) whose objective is to spur interest in accounting among schoolgoers exploring career opportunities.
The total number of learners who wrote the first round of the SAIPA accounting olympiad exams in 2013 was 2 536, compared to 2 144 in 2012, says SAIPA’s accreditation compliance and development executive, Navin Lalsab. “The pass rate rose by an encouraging 390% to 819, following a modest increase the year before of 16% over 2011,” he adds. “However, we need to continue to improve this performance year on year if we are to produce future professional accounting leaders in the numbers required to build the economy and create jobs.”
“Given the importance of maths and accounting in the world of work, the scarcity of qualified professional accountants in South Africa and the government’s emphasis on bringing up the matric pass rate in the subject, SAIPA will continue, through the Olympiad, to promote professional accountancy as an attractive option for school leavers and to develop much-needed maths skills to bolster the economy.
Following the second two-hour exam in August, Ebrahiem Abrahams and Muiazzam Rawoot, both of Rondebosch Boys High School in Rondebosch, Western Cape), emerged national winner and runner-up respectively. Third was A Abdul Ahmed (Star College Girls High School, Westville North, KwaZulu Natal).
The national winner in the Dinaledi schools category was Lebogang Mnguni (Letsibogo Girls High School, Soweto, Gauteng), second Zinhle Tabete (Siphapheme High School, Umzinto South, KwaZulu Natal) and third Matsepe Tsiu (Sutherland High School, Pretoria, Gauteng).