Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct 13 (EMN): A total of 58 students from 29 schools are participating at the 9th Nagaland Spelling Bee Championship 2022, which got underway at RCEMPA in Jotsoma village under Kohima district on October 13 on the theme 'The learning edge.'
The event is being organised by Fountain Club Kohima, in collaboration with State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), government of Nagaland.
Advisor of Information Technology and Communication, Science and Technology, N&RE, Mmhonlumo Kikon, who the special guest of the inaugural function, suggested that schools should go beyond curriculum to ensure that the students are trained in thinking about words, while he also emphasised on the role of teachers and schools for skilling the students.
He stated that having rich vocabulary is an essence for a good reading and expounded the various scopes of being a voracious reader.
Pointing out that informed citizenry is essential for growth and development of the state, he stated that it should start from the grassroots. He also urged the organisers to take forward the competition by suggesting them to design the training programme for all the schools to follow in order to have a different level of competitions.
Delivering the keynote address, the director of SCERT, N Chumchanbeni Kikon, has appreciated the initiative and activities taken up by the Fountain Club on various issues and especially towards the student's community. She stated that since its inception in 2011, the Nagaland Spelling Bee Championship has been able to create an excellent platform for participants and organisers to gain substantial experience, showcase skills, analyse and evaluate outcomes and uncover personal aptitude.
She pointed out that the spelling bee competition aimed at creating awareness of the possibilities of using varied words in oral and written expression and to add words to the active vocabulary of students. She added that it encouraged young children to develop their spelling skills and vocabulary as well as developing public speaking.
The official maintained that spell bee competition is conducted to give students a platform to learn spellings in different ways, enrich their vocabulary, learn concepts and develop the use of correct English. She also stated that spelling bee helped to promote literacy by providing children with a positive goal to work toward and give them a forum to display the fruits of their hard work.
She said, “It helps cement the connection that is shared between sound and letters. Language plays an important role in the all round development of a student”.
Stating that it is impossible to memorise all 450,000 words in the dictionary, she stated that contestants need to make guesses instead based on their knowledge.
Convenor of the spelling bee championship, Neizokhotuo, informed that 58 students from Phek, Dimapur, Tuensang and Kohima are participating in event.
On Thursday, a total of 32 students have qualified for the next round.
The final round would be held on Friday, where the advisor of School Education and SCERT, KT Sukhalu, would grace the closing ceremony as the special guest and give away prizes to the winners.