11 Sep 2017

Spelling Bee central region chairperson says the competition is expected to boost students’ grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

This year’s central regional competition attracted 11 schools, nine junior and two senior secondary schools.

National competitions are slated for Kasane October 6. Speaking during the official opening in Letlhakane on Saturday, Ms Gabalebatse Tias said the competitions intended to develop students that could clearly articulate their thoughts and ideas at an international level as well as develop students’ confidence and stage presence.

Spelling Bee she said was also created with the purpose of providing a platform for students to inspire others and be inspired.

Its aim she said was to build and inspire a self- reliant, self- sufficient and consensus nation, a country not successful but valuable by the next decade. Spelling Bee has been in existence since 2012 and was first introduced in the North-West region, Central region started participating in 2015 with only seven schools and had a team that participated in the national competition but did not do well, stated Ms Tias.

She urged students to improve their performance so that they could partake in the continent’s competition.

The organiser, Ms Monica Molapisi said the event was relatively new especially in public schools and it was their wish as English teachers to promote and create more awareness about it. Ms Molapisi said the competition aimed at sensitising parents and students country-wide, to enable them see its importance in promoting learning of the English language.

The competition was divided into two categories, Under 16 and 17 categories.

In the under 16 category, two students from Kgatadima, one from Bakgopeng, one from Maunatlala, one from Gosemama and one from Mmachibaba junior secondary schools will represent Central region at the national competition.

Under 17 will be represented by four students from Lotsane senior and two from Moeng College. ENDS