Sandiso Phaliso
TWO weeks of reading the Cape Times from cover to cover paid off for the The Oracle Academy team, crowned winners of the 24th annual South African Institute of International Affairs Interschool (SAIIA) quiz.
On Tuesday night, 200 pupils from 50 Western Cape schools battled it out for the coveted trophy at Bishops (Diocesan College) in Rondebosch.
Cape Times senior writer Dougie Oakes, who handed over the trophy to the most improved school, said: “The top 10 schools changed positions several times during the quiz.
“There were some tricky questions and a few times the quiz master tested how well pupils grasped concepts centred on issues such as economics. But even here, participants from the top schools passed with flying colours.”
The children answered questions ranging from local to international sport, hard news, celebrity gossip and entertainment news.
La Rochelle Girls High School came second, Herzlia High School took the third spot and Jan Van Riebeeck High was named the most improved school in the competition.
After a tense, but thrilling 20-question period that lasted 30 minutes, the winning team was named.
The Oracle Academy, in Ottery, took home a R6 000 cash prize for their school and will also attend the SAIIA Young Leaders’ Conference in Johannesburg later this year.
They will have the opportunity to tour government departments, ministries, embassies and consulates.
Raaiq Hendricks, Shaakira Ebrahim, Saarah Abrahams and Furgaan Mohamed said the reason behind their victory was hard work and commitment to winning.
Everyone went home a winner as all the schools were given numerous books for their libraries.
In the quiz, individual prizes, including a trip up Table Mountain on the cableway and goodie bags, were also handed out.
After winning, Hendricks said: “We feel like we are on fire. We are very proud of ourselves.
“Despite that we got the newspapers a week later than everyone else, we made sure that we read the newspapers twice and understood the content.
“We worked twice as hard as we should have and it paid off.”
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, who attended the quiz, said: “All good leaders I know are always reading something. It broadens the mind and makes one a better person, able to identify with people from different backgrounds.
“It also enables you to learn about events that happen in other parts of the world and in multiple spheres of knowledge.
“Being unable or unwilling to read impacts severely on one’s development.
“Reading is critical for all aspects of life, and as we go further and further into the digital world, it becomes even more crucial,” said Schäfer.
SAIIA Western Cape branch chairperson Martha Bridgman said the schools were chosen on a first come, first served basis.
She said the quiz encourages pupils to read about the world beyond South Africa.
“Hopefully all the participants will be encouraged to go and read about what is happening around the world. The tournament is always tense.
It was exciting to see the winners smile,” said Bridgman.
South African foreign journalist Peter Fabricius talked to the participants about South Africa and Africa’s relations since South Africa became a democratic country in 1994.
He told the pupils that South Africa did get involved in African affairs, “but the results have been unimpressive”.
He said before 1994 South Africa had a “hostile” relationship with Africa because of apartheid.
“Africa is our hinterland and this is where our focus should be.
“It is time for us to practise what we preach and come home to Africa.”
@PhalisoSandiso