WE CAN’T agree on anything in Mzansi. Some people organise entrepreneurial training for pupils but others feel that’s too extravagant and the money should be spent on struggling small business owners now.
But SunMoney believes that as long as people are dedicated to making Mzansi better, we’re okay with that. This is why we’re looking at Eskom’s Simama Ranta School Entrepreneurship Education competition.
The competition is aimed at pupils who show a strong interest in entrepreneurship.
The challenge rewards the top three schools in each province as well as the national winner.
To qualify, intermediate and secondary schools must run enterprise clubs that teach their pupils the basics of starting and running businesses using practical methods.
Last week, Eskom Development Foundation, in partnership with the Education With Enterprise Trust, hosted a competition at a hall in Richards Bay, KZN, where three schools were honoured.
Birdswood High School in Richards Bay took the first prize of R50 000 for a cake shop and internet cafe run by the pupils.
First runner up was Aquadene Secondary School, which won R25 000. Second runner up was Ikhandlela Secondary School and it won R10 000.
Sphelele Ndlovu (17) and Kwanele Khoza (17) from Ikhandlela High School, said: “We realised that many people these days go for food businesses so we decided to be different and sell beads.”
Sphelele said she and the other girls started their business in January last year.
“We do commerce as a subject at school but we are happy we also learn about the practical side.”
She said that because of all the work they and the other girls do, they were able to afford two sewing-machines.
