The South African Reserve Bank announces the winners of the 2026 Monetary Policy Committee Schools Challenge.

^{18 August 2026}

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) congratulates KwaZulu-Natal’s Michaelhouse, which has taken the top spot in this year’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Schools Challenge. Each learner from the winning team walks away with a full bursary to further their studies if they meet the criteria, a cash prize and an iPad.

This year, 10 schools from across the country were shortlisted as finalists. The team from Hoërskool Garsfontein in Gauteng came second, with the Western Cape’s Bridge House College rounding out the top three.

The other teams placed as follows:

• Fourth: Soshanguve South Secondary, Gauteng 
• Fifth: South African College High School, Western Cape
• Sixth: The Kings School White River, Mpumalanga
• Seventh: Protea Heights Academy, Western Cape
• Eighth: Paarl Boys High School, Western Cape
• Nineth: Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary, Western Cape
• Tenth: Murray High School, Western Cape

Background on the competition

First piloted in 2012, the MPC Schools Challenge is the SARB’s flagship corporate social investment programme. The competition is aimed at Grade 12 learners and is designed to stimulate interest in monetary policy and central banking.

Learners from participating schools are given an opportunity to step into the shoes of the Governor and MPC, formulating their own MPC statements. Submitted essays undergo a shortlisting process and finalist teams present their statements to a panel of senior SARB economists in the style of an MPC press conference.