Nagaland spelling bee championship underway

JOTSOMA — A total of 76 spellers representing 39 schools from Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Phek, Kohima, Wokha and Zunheboto districts are competing for the coveted 10th edition of the Nagaland spelling bee championship.

The two-day championship got underway at RCEMPA in Jotsoma, few kilometres away from the state capital, Kohima. The championship is being organised by Fountain Club, in collaboration with State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Nagaland.

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Attending the inaugural function as bee guest, advisor of Water Resources, Tongpang Ozukum, congratulated the Fountain Club for the vision they have for the students and younger generation to create the platform. He also commended them for the efforts to create a more literate community.

Ozukum advised the participants to take the competition seriously stating that the spelling bee competition is not all about memorising words but about moulding young minds.

Pointing out that participating in the competition would improve their vocabulary, language skills, enhance cognitive abilities, he also stressed on the importance of understanding English and delved into the origin and usages to improve reading and writing skills.

In a keynote address, Kevirale-ü Kerhuo, director of SCERT, said the main objective of the competition was to learn vocabulary, learn concept and develop correct English usage so as to facilitate the development of literacy, comprehension, writing, self-confidence, memory retention, creativity and employment opportunities.

She said learning spelling is an essential ability to master any language as it allows the clear expression of any thought in any written test while it also builds a strong foundation for children. She further called upon the government schools in the states to come forward and participate in the competition.

Convenor of the organising committee, Vipopal Kintso, in his welcome address, said Fountain Club is a group of people formed in 2005 with 17 members, who have come together to do good for the society and the younger generation in particular.

Among other activities, Kintso said organising the spelling bee competition was to help young students develop the habit and love for reading. He asserted that it would give confidence and competency to communicate eloquently, both verbal and written; enhance the students’ memory and retention capabilities and sharpens their reflective capacities; widen students’ vocabulary as it would expose them to varied words, origin usages and make them value and understand that correct spelling is imperative to literary development; facilitate students to confidently face and excel in various forms and level.