SLT – ACCA HighQ quiz to be the catalyst in broadening horizons in education

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation’s number one and only integrated communication service provider and The Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), the world’s largest and fastest growing accounting body have come together once again, to bring the nation’s premier quiz programme ‘SLT – ACCA HighQ’ to the youth of the country.



Speaking on the Sri Lanka’s premier Quiz program, Mr. Shoji Takahashi, CEO of SLT said “‘Education is nourishment to the brain’, We are proud to conduct the SLT-ACCA HighQ Quiz Programme for the second time. This is yet another extension of our commitment to uplift the standard of education in Sri Lanka. This quiz programme, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, will feature segments that encourage confidence building, the ability to face challenges, teamwork as well as interactive skills. The quiz programme is aimed at enhancing the knowledge of school children. Knowledge is the foundation by which life itself is based and is necessary and vital in day to day affairs. We hope that everyone watching would not only learn something new but will also enjoy themselves.



Mr. P. N. E Abayasekara, Chief Corporate Officer of SLT said “SLT values today’s youth which is an asset to our country. In fact, SLT takes education as one of the major aspects of our corporate social responsibility programmes. We decided to conduct the SLT-ACCA HighQ Programme in association with ACCA in order to make Sri Lankan youth the most knowledgeable in South East Asia”



The collaboration between SLT and ACCA is based on a shared vision, which gives the opportunity to encourage students to further aspire in their goals. The partnership between SLT and the ACCA Sri Lanka is very natural when looked at from a professional angle, with SLT being a valued strategic partner who has been extremely proactive to work with. Both organisations share a common ideology, as they are equally passionate of being a catalyst in broadening horizons in education.



Speaking on the significance of having a programme of this nature Aruni Rajakarier, Country Manager, ACCA Sri Lanka said: “The reason we are having this quiz programme is because we want it to broaden students’ learning horizon and their minds. They have to enjoy the learning process. We want them to look outside the curriculum. They must have general knowledge and the love of acquiring knowledge, which will spur their later achievements. The younger generation needs to know what’s happening around the world, whether it’s politics, finance, economics, culture and arts in order to have an intelligent conversation. This creates the impression that you are a well read and articulate individual. We believe in creating a love of learning outside our school curricula and this quiz programme will help us to attain this objective.”



Schools are invited to nominate a student, who will be called for a test. If the numbers are vast, the tests will be held at regional centres. After the test, 60 candidates, who have the highest marks, will be selected to go to the televised round. The broad structure of the programme comprises of a challenge round, the semi finals and the final round. The challenge round will comprise of 60 students, who will be split up into 12 groups of five each. The winner from these 12 groups will go to the semi finals where they will compete against each other. There will be two semi finals, with six students each and the winner as well as the runner up will go into the final round, which will comprise of four contestants. It will be telecast weekly on Channel Eye, with the repeat on ETV.



The selection criterion is focused purely on general knowledge with the target group being 16 years and above. The test is based on a question bank, which itself is drawn from a number of resource persons who are experts in their relevant fields. Based on that the regional papers will be set up, which would be different from region to region but of the same standard. The winner will receive a grand prize of Rs250,000 and the runners up gets 100,000. The winners of the semi final round get Rs50, 000 and Rs25, 000 for the winner of the challenge round. The winner will also receive a trophy while participants and winners will get certificates.