Bramley’s Liberty Community College pupil, Dineo Mojapelo came out tops in a recent National Accounting Olympiad.
Majapelo was the top female performer in the category for independent schools in the Olympiad run by the South African Institute of Professional Accountants, in conjunction with the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of South Africa.
The Olympiad is an annual competition aimed at raising awareness around the career choice of becoming a Professional Accountant (SA). Mojapelo achieved a score of 88.88 percent, putting her on par with fellow Gauteng private school top male performer, Ismaeel Kaka from Pretoria’s Azaadville Muslim School.
She was slightly behind government school performers Phuti Tshepo Moloto from Pax College in Mashashane, Limpopo, who scored 92.88 percent and Sumaiya Moses from Uitenhage High School in the Eastern Cape who achieved 92.44 percent.
“There is a perception that Olympiads are challenging,” said Mojapelo. “Well, that is exactly what I wanted – a challenge – and the National Accounting Olympiad was simply a perfect platform for me to prove I can do it. Winning has given me a lot of courage. Now I feel like a different person as I have self-confidence and I believe more in my abilities.”
Mojapelo ascribes much of her success to her teacher, Precious Phida, who realised early on that she needed to be exposed to new challenges. “I said to her two years ago, ‘Dineo, in Grade 12, I want you to register and win the Olympiad.’ It was so prophetic!” he said.
Phida said his classroom approach hinges on the belief that all his pupils were exceptionally gifted in some way and his role was to boost their confidence and make them believe that they can achieve anything they want to as long as they apply themselves fully.
Describing her teacher’s input into her life, Mojapelo said: “A week does not go by without me receiving a motivational talk from Mr Phida. He propels me to work to the best of my abilities. Knowing he believes in me makes me to want to achieve more.”
