By Awa Dampha
Tankular-based Kutehjumbulu Kafoo, Kiang West District, has awarded primary school pupils within the region who have taken part in its national Spelling Bee Competition with cash prizes, stationeries and school bags.
The event was meant to give platform to the pupils to showcase their talents through the use of words as a drive to stimulate positive reading and spelling culture.
Adama Njie, a pupil from Tankular Lower Basic School, emerged the champion in the competition.
Tankular, Joli, Kuyang, Karantaba and Gissay impressed educational authorities in Lower River Region and communities in the western Kiang with calculation of syllables and pronunciations of words from the English dictionary.
Lamin Gibba from Gissay Lower Basic School was hailed as the first-runner up and Elman Manneh from Tankular received the award as second runner-up.
The district spelling bee was organised in build up to a national spelling competition in April 2021 that would feature the participation of the best six spellers from Kiang West.
Kaffo, Alhagie Ceesay, secretary of the organising committee, said his Kafoo’s is committed to the course of education for children in the rural areas.
He described the initiative as a form of continuous education that would unreservedly lay a solid foundation for better future of the community.
“This is also to ensure that the vision is not only attained through quality and relevant education but also by the creation of access for the youngest generation to participate in national events, “he said.
Mr Tunde, a veteran spelling bee coordinator for Lower Basic Schools, challenged parents, teachers and guardians to believe in their children and give them support in their educational career.
He called on the education authorities to consider the engagement of more stakeholders to boost the quality of this extra-curricular activity in all parts of the country.
“This is a collective responsibility to look beyond the town and see what is happening and what could be done at the remote ends to add to the system,” he said.
