By Eric S. Kawa
Over the years there have been several concerns over the poor culture of reading and comprehension. These have largely been attributed to the inability of spelling words.
In addressing the challenges of spelling, Initiative in Capacity Building Association International (ICBAI), has been spearheading Spelling Bee Challenges in Sierra Leone since 2010.
Spelling Bee is a competition in which contestants are required to spell a broad range of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty.
The concept is said to have originated in the United States.
Sierra Leone is among sixteen African countries invited to take part in this year’s African Spelling Bee Competition in Kampala, Uganda.
Ahead of the competitions in October, the Initiative in Capacity Building Association International in partnership with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Education has staged a competition to select six participants at the Miatta Conference in Freetown.
Speaking to AYV, the Founder and Director of Initiative in Capacity Building Association International, Isata Musu Harding says this is the first time Sierra Leone will be participating in this competition, noting that it will serve as a platform to select the six people who will represent the country in Uganda.
Sylvester Mbawah is among the first ten participants who reached the finals of the competitions organized in Freetown. He advised his colleagues to pay more attention to spellings.
“I improve on my spellings by reading newspapers, magazines and other forms of literature. This has helped me immensely in understanding words and making it through to this stage,’’ says Mbawah.
On his part, Dalton Berri, a parent of one of the participants called on parents to assist and supervise their children in their studies. “My daughter is my best friend. I ensure that she’s always consistent with her studies. I believe that is the reason why she is one of the best readers in her school,” says Berri.
At the end of the competitions, many of the participants in the High School category had ties in their score points. Hence the organizers called for another final competition among the four participants in which three will be selected. The finals are slated for Sunday 8th October 2019 on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation TV.
