Fourteen (14) pupils of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International Ghana, an international standard educational institute in Tema have been deemed the favourites among the group selected to represent Tema Region at the national level of ‘The Spelling Bee’ Competition slated for February 2017 in Accra.
The brilliant spellers were selected from over 140 competitors from 11 schools in the Tema Metropolis who participated in the regional spelling bee competition held at the premises of DPSI in Community 25, Tema.
Two of DPSI pupils emerged as the best of the best in the exciting competition after they squared off in the written vocabulary test before racing for two rounds of oral spelling to covert the top spot.
A total of 65 spellers qualified to represent Tema in the National Spelling Bee Competition with DPSI having the highest number of spellers among them after the marks scored by each pupil from the three rounds of the contest were accumulated.
The competition was organized by the Young Educators Foundation (YEF) in collaboration with Indomie Instant Noodle.
Mr. David Raj, the Principal of DPS International Ghana pointed out that the decision to present pupils of DPS International Ghana to participate in the competition forms part of the school’s regulation to inspire the children to pursue excellence.
“We believe that by encouraging and assisting them to partake in programs of this nature, they will be exposed to the correct usage of the English Language by learning how to spell more words, the correct pronunciation of the words and their origin, to help them improve upon their general knowledge of the English Language to enable them speak it fluently.”
The Principal was optimistic that the participants of the Spelling Bee competition, would not only gain the direct benefits of an enriched English Language but the competitive spirit of the program would also help them build their confidence in public speaking.
“It will also train the children to do away with fright whenever they stand before a huge gathering to speak,” he elaborated.
Mr. Mukesh V. Thakwani, Chairman of DPSI and B5 Plus Ltd was impressed with the outstanding performance of his pupils in the Regional Competition in which they excelled to qualify for the national challenge.
He urged them to work extra hard to win the national competition in order to represent Ghana in the Scripp Spelling Bee at United States.
Deputy National Coach of Spelling Bee, Ghana, Emmanuel K. Afful extolled pupils of DPSI for putting up an impressive performance at the event and emerging the best spellers.
He urged the school to always partake in such competitions for the development of the pupils and to show the way to other schools.
Some parents and guardians who took time off their busy schedule to witness their children’s wonderful feat at the competition were impressed.
A parent mentioned that he had noticed an immense improvement in his child’s spoken English since he started participating in the spelling competition. He promised he would ensure that his ward partake in all competitions in the school.
A 10-year-old Raj Thakwani, one of the young spellers of DPSI who has got a place in the national competition articulated joy in his breakthrough and promised to put out an exceptional performance to join the train for Scripps Spelling Bee.
Riyush Keshan, a grade 6 pupil who was the second top speller at the regional level assured the school of embarking on serious training to bring the national trophy to DPS International Ghana.
DPS International Ghana has won the National Spelling Bee competition for three consecutive years and recorded the highest performance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United State of America (USA).
The school is also noted for recording excellent results every year in the IGCSE examinations.
The Spelling Bee is the local version of the internationally acclaimed Scripps Spelling Bee. Now in its 10th year in Ghana, the competition is aimed at teaching pupils the correct pronunciation and usage of the English language. It is also a platform to equip teachers with key approaches to the teaching of the English language.