The South Pacific Stock Exchange launched a national essay competition yesterday in a bid to enhance the knowledge students have about the stock market.

With support from the Ministry of Education, the competition is designed to aid national efforts to improve financial literacy among high school students.

Permanent Secretary for Education Alison Burchell, who was chief guest during the launch, said financial literacy was part of four key developmental components the ministry was looking at.

The other three, she said, were literacy, technological knowledge and physical education.

SPSE chairperson, Nur Bano Ali, said it was important for young people to be financially aware.

She added: “I think there is a need for everybody to learn and understand the stock market from a very early age.”

The competition will have two categories; Year 9 and 10 students qualify to enter category one, while Year 11, 12 and 13 can submit essays in the second category.

Three winners will be selected from each category with a range of prizes – including laptop computers and hard cash – up for grabs.

Students are required to select essay topics related to the stock market and provided according to each category.

The submission date for the essays is on Thursday, May 31. SPSE chief executive officer Krishika Narayan said: “One of the key focus areas for the SPSE is to increase the attractiveness of and create awareness about the stock market in Fiji.

“SPSE has this year decided to involve the high school students into its awareness programme through the launch of the National Essay Competition.”

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