Two Mbombela spellers invited to Dubai competition
Valencia Combined School's school governing body chairperson, Mildred Mailula, said they are proud of the learners' achievements, as they will be representing the school in the Dubai competition later this year.
Two spellers of Valencia Combined School have qualified to compete in the International Masters Spelling Bee (MSB) competition.
Sana Maleka and Babongile Dube were invited to compete in Dubai in a spelling competition on September 16. They will join the learners from South Africa who will represent the country.
ALSO READ: Deputy ministers joins City of Mbombela’s imbizo
MSB is a national competition that sees South Africa’s best spellers competing against one another. Learners participate in the regional competition, and only the top 10 are invited to the provincial competition. Only the top five learners are invited to the national competition.
Every year, MSB’s national winners are invited to the international competition, which is open to learners from grades three to 10.
Mildred Mailula, the SGB chairperson, said these learners are part of a team who competed in the regionals in Mpumalanga and made it to the nationals in Durban last October. She said the two who are invited are excited and are currently working hard for their next match. “The competition is to showcase their skills and abilities with spelling, while the learners develop linguistic skills and vocabulary.”
ALSO READ:UMP joins South African Association of Women Graduates in 100-year celebrations
She said the school is proud of what the spellers have achieved and for representing the school. Mailula believed that competing on international stages, will give the learners great exposure.
“The learners are responsible for raising the funds to travel to Dubai, and we are currently trying to assist in raising funds for them. MSB invites them as winners and then they must do their part to get to Dubai. As the school and parents, we have in the past managed to raise funds to get the learners to the provincial and national competition, however, this time we are unable to raise the amount needed to get to Dubai. We need sponsors to assist with paying for transport, airplane tickets, accommodation, food and other essentials. We urge the community to assist us.”
Those who would like to assist, may contact Mailula on 079 602 4918.
