Durban - The Alfred Duma Local Municipality hopes that the spelling bee competition will continue to encourage local pupils to develop a love for book reading and improve their vocabulary.
As the municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands gets set to host the annual competition on Wednesday, it is expected that pupils will raise the standard as they did last year.
Municipality spokesperson Thabisile Mkhize said the event aims to encourage pupils to be at their best as there are also prizes to be won in the competition.
“Last year’s prizes included iPhones, stationery and dictionaries, all of which help in shaping learners’ abilities to understand words and how to spell them,” she explained.
Alfred Duma Local Municipality mayor Zama Sibisi will be one of the guests attending the event at the Ladysmith Civic Hall on Wednesday.
According to the spokesperson, the competition will feature 48 pupils from Grade 5 at various schools within the municipal jurisdiction who will be competing to spell words.
“It is an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy, learning to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all,” the spokesperson added.
The day observed as International Literacy Day will be celebrated worldwide under the theme, “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for peaceful and sustainable societies”.