POLOKWANE – Six learners from various schools in the Capricorn District Municipality triumphed in the district spelling bee and storytelling competitions held at Miami Lodge last Thursday.
The competitions was aimed at gr. 7 learners in storytelling and those from gr. 4 to 6 in the spelling bee. Khomotso Mbombi, a gr. 7 learner from Letlotlo Primary School, came first in the storytelling competition and Malakia Mapheto, a gr. 5 learner in Dikolobe Primary School, obtained first position in the spelling bee competition. About 24 learners took time in spelling actual words and eight in telling out stories. The winners will now proceed to the national competitions which are scheduled for October 14, at a venue yet to be confirmed. Stephen Mpe, a senior education specialist, says the goal of the competitions is to empower children through education and language. “A simple thing like a person’s accent is determined at a young age, you can’t change it. This is also the time when the human brain is growing the fastest,” he explains.
He added the language enrichment festival is part of the school’s curriculum for the third term of the academic year.
Masingita Mulaudzi, one of the organisers, congratulated the winners and wished them luck for the grand finals. Khomotso says she is overwhelmed. “I’m a performer by nature. Wherever I am, people know that I’m always in the limelight, either by acting, singing or telling out stories. I would like to be in the entertainment industry one day,” states this sharp young mind confidently. Malakia is a bookworm who loves to read, which also helped him with spelling.
