21 April 2009
The Free State Department of Education will be celebrating the World Book
Day on 23 April 2009, at Motheo ERC at 10h00.
World Book Day was initiated to celebrate reading on 23 April of each year.
In most countries on this day roses and books are exchanged as gifts
symbolising "a rose for love and books forever".
World Book Day in South Africa has been co-ordinated by the Centre for the
Book since its establishment in 1998. The Centre for the Book is responsible
for managing activities including a nationwide poster campaign whereby
approximately 50 000 special posters are designed, printed and distributed with
the assistance of South Africa Education, SAPPI SA and other print
organisations.
This year, the Free State Department of Education decided to embark on a
"Spelling Bee" competition as part of World Book Day celebration. The
competition originated from the United States of America as a National Spelling
Bee in 1925, and was established to motivate the learners to enlarge their
vocabularies and to widen their knowledge of the English language. The
competition was named a Spelling Bee, with the word "bee" simply suggesting a
gathering where people join together for a specific activity. The originators
also looked at the similarity between human social gatherings, and the social
nature of bees and thus decided that this word would also befit the description
of the spelling bee competitions. The US usually organises a Bee Week where
regional competitors are given an opportunity to socialise amongst themselves,
enjoy sightseeing and educational excursions.
In a Spelling Bee competition, learners are each given a word to spell in
front of an audience per round. If the word is not correctly spelt, the learner
is automatically eliminated. The Spelling Bee competition for 2009 will take
place in oral and written formats and in three levels: School based District
and the final competition at Provincial level.
Only 26 learners from 26 schools will participate in the Provincial Spelling
Bee competition. The learners will be accompanied by one teacher and one
principal per participating school.
Spelling Bee competition will thus test learners' spelling skills and assist
them to understand that the alternative way of obtaining better reading skills
is through voluntary reading (reading for pleasure).
The media is hereby invited to attend this prestigious event.
Information regarding the event:
Date: 23 April 2009
Venue: Motheo ERC â Old Brebner Sec School (Gascony Street)
Time: 09h30
For further enquiries:
Mr Isaac Ntshauba
Cell: 079 624 7344
Mr Solly Magalefa
Cell: 082 573 3404
Enquiries:
I. Ntshauba
Tel: 051 404 8356
Fax: 051 404 8461
E-mail: ntshaubai@edu.fs.gov.za
21 April 2009
Issued by: Department of Education, Free State Provincial Government
21 April 2009
