Spelling competition takes off in Wa

Wa, March 4, GNA- The National Spelling Zee Programme in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) is organizing spelling competitions in an effort to improve the usage of the English language among students at the basic and tertiary levels in the country. Mr Kodwo Morgan, a Director at the National Spelling Zee Programme said the fallen standards of education had stemmed from the poor understanding and usage of the English language by students and should be of concern to all.

He said the programme was being pursued because poor standards in the expression of the English Language and written English Language among students had affected the progress of higher learning, especially in other subject areas of education.

The Graphic Communication Group, Kenya Airways, Antrak Air, Tigo and SEDCO Longman Publishers are sponsoring an Accra based Company, Quest Events to organise the competition for basic schools in the regions.

Speaking at one of such competitions in Wa, Mr Morgan said English Language was the bedrock of education and that any deficiencies in its usage would corrupt the new educational reforms. He said even though improvement in the use of English Language was not a panacea to the educational reforms, it would help students to consolidate the aspirations of their education and enhance national development.

Mr Morgan gave the assurance that the Programme would be sustained and called on the district assemblies to support it at the district level.

The Upper Regional edition of the programme brought together more than 100 students from Junior High Schools from the various districts to compete for the regional championship. In all, ten students, who excelled were selected to represent the region at the National Spelling Competition in Accra later this year. Master Christian Koranteng, 12, from St Andrews Junior High School was adjudged the Upper West Regional Champion. The students took away books, certificates and cash as their prize.