Teams of four Grade 10 or 11 learners are invited to test their general knowledge in this increasingly popular quiz which is being run by the Durban office of, international audit and accounting firm, BDO, for the sixth year running.
 
In 2014, 216 learners, from 27 Durban and Pietermaritzburg schools, competed for the title with Durban Girls High coming out tops. They won the right to choose an under-privileged school to receive R10 000 worth of books, jointly sponsored by BDO and Books & Books. Each of the four winning team members also took home the latest Apple iPod shuffle from BDO. A Clifton College team, in second place, won R500 worth of book vouchers from Books & Books.
 
“These prizes will be on offer again this year,” said Sally Juckes, audit and assurance partner at BDO’s Durban office. “It has become apparent though, that among the most valuable things that students get out of the quiz is the chance to test their wits as part of a team against the best of their peers, the sense of achievement when they do well, and the opportunity to help others less fortunate than they are.”
 
Past participants have described the event as ‘fun-filled’, ‘exciting’ and ‘thoroughly enjoyable’. In the words of Christine McGladdery of Westville Boys' High School, “You provided a super space for learners who often don’t fit into the standard sporty moulds. BDO really showed that it can be cool to be clever.”
 
The quiz takes the form of a round robin competition in which the teams of four learners are asked a series of general knowledge questions. 
 
Four regional rounds will be held in March and May ahead of the final which will take place at Clifton School on Thursday, 21 May. They will be held on Thursday, 19 March at Westville Boys High School, on Tuesday, 5 May at Hilton College, on Thursday, 7 May at Crawford College La Lucia and on Tuesday, 12 May at Glenwood High School.
 
Any learner or school wishing to take part should phone Frances Cochrane at BDO on 010 060 6700.