Triumph in numbers: The top three winners of the Form Four category posing for a photo.
TWENTY secondary school students were all smiles when they emerged victorious at the recently concluded National Accounting Quiz Challenge (NAQC) 2023.
Their win saw them receiving accounting scholarships worth a total of RM3mil.
At the challenge, held from Dec 9 to 17 last year, the winners showed their aptitude for professional accountancy skills by answering Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level questions which incorporated higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) questions inspired by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) as well as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Hosted by TYMBA Education since 2021, the annual initiative is its effort to inspire and motivate young minds towards a rewarding career in accounting, in line with the country’s goal of producing 60,000 chartered accountants by 2030.
The quiz is aimed at creating an opportunity for students in Forms Four and Five, particularly those from the Bumiputera community, to showcase their understanding and expertise in accounting and demonstrate their skills.
The latest event saw the NAQC amassing RM1.8mil in scholarships to date from Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera (Yayasan Peneraju) and the Malaysia Professional Accountancy Centre (MyPAC).
TYMBA Education Group chief executive officer Airil Razali said the group’s goal is to carve out a clear path for all accounting talents in Malaysia to have access to specialised education and, ultimately, a successful career.
“For the NAQC 2023, we witnessed 3,500 students participating – there’s a growing interest in the field.
“We hope that by giving these young talents a platform to showcase their skills and knowledge, they can confidently move forward towards continuous excellence in the accounting field,” he said in a press release dated Jan 10.
In addition to hosting the quiz, the group, through its tutors, has assisted over 3,000 students in passing their examinations.
Expressing his support for the initiative, ACCA business development manager for Education Raymond Chang said the association shares the common goal of preparing the next generation of accountants and business leaders.
ICAEW head of Malaysia Shenola Gonzales said the initiative is in line with the institute’s strategic foundations to increase trust in the profession and support the growth of talent and diversity.
“We are pleased to endorse initiatives that promote interest and awareness regarding the crucial role of solid business, accountancy and financial expertise in advancing a robust economy,” she said.
