This year, the National English Olympiad celebrated a remarkable milestone — its 50th anniversary! Founded in 1976 by the visionary Dr Malcolm Venter, the Olympiad has inspired generations of learners to think critically, write boldly, and explore language in creative and meaningful ways.

In a fitting tribute, Dr Venter returned this year as Chief Examiner, alongside Yvette Morgan as Co-examiner and Tasneem Dolly, who prepared the FAL (First Additional Language) paper.

The 2024 anthology, titled “Love! Life! Land!”, centred around the theme of “Celebration”, inviting candidates to reflect on joy, beauty, and belonging. We were thrilled to see 5,523 learners from across the country take up the challenge — with some schools submitting especially large and enthusiastic entries!

Looking ahead, SACEE Eastern Cape and The Grahamstown Foundation are hard at work exploring ways to modernise and future-proof the Olympiad. In an effort to streamline operations and reduce unnecessary costs, we are rethinking processes to better suit a digital-first, eco-conscious generation — without losing the richness of the Olympiad experience. We’re also aiming to boost participation from FAL learners, to ensure this opportunity reaches even more young South Africans.

While we’re still in the early planning stages, we’re excited about what lies ahead — and committed to keeping the Olympiad relevant, inclusive, and inspiring for years to come.

For the results of the 2025 Olympiad and more details click here.

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New! The Public Speaking Challenge: A Voice for Every Learner

In 2024, we proudly launched an exciting new initiative: the SACEE Public Speaking Challenge, open to Juniors (Grades 7–9) and Seniors (Grades 10–12). Each term, learners take on a different facet of public speaking, allowing them to develop confidence, creativity, and communication skills in a fun, competitive environment.

Here’s what each term looks like:

• Term 1: Spelling Bee
• Term 2: Dramatic Monologue or Interpretive Reading
• Term 3: Prepared & Unprepared Speeches
• Term 4: The top 3 in each category compete for first place!

Though still in its early stages, the challenge has already gained strong support from schools in and around Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, and we’re excited to see it grow.

Together, the English Olympiad and Public Speaking Challenge form the heart of SACEE Eastern Cape’s mission: to empower learners through language, spark their curiosity, and celebrate their voices.

Here’s to another year of growth, innovation, and inspiration!