22 Feb 2021

The Spelling Bee Botswana has launched a book titled Spelling Bee Handbook as part of their project reach.

Speaking at the launch, the director of Basic Education, Ndondo Koolese described Spelling Bee as an educational toolbox that was valuable to the repository of learning materials in schools and libraries in the country.

“The Ministry of Basic Education has embraced Spelling Bee Botswana as a strategic partner in the provision of education in the country since 2012. It is evident that Spelling Bee Botswana is well endowed with intelligence and talent. We are impressed by the high level of professionalism, commitment and exuberance with which they execute their mandate,” he said.

Koolese further said some of the notable initiatives by Spelling Bee Botswana included competitions locally and the co-establishment of the African Spelling Bee Championships. He said this also extended to the inclusion of the hearing impaired, which is a flagship and groundbreaking initiative.

“I will like to encourage you to continue to embrace and include learners with special needs in whatever educational interventions you undertake and also explore possibilities and strategies for including in your programming learners with other forms of needs/disabilities,” he said.

He urged parents to make it possible for all the children to have access to the book and equally encouraged Spelling Bee Botswana to aggressively market the book so that it reached all those who may need it.

For her part, chief financial officer Lucara Botswana, Boitumelo Maoketsa said, Spelling Bee Botswana and Lucara Botswana had built a very strong relationship that has resulted in numerous successes.

She said Spelling Bee Botswana continued to raise the bar of literacy development. 

“We are proud beyond measure to be able to support such fantastic work and see tangible results. It is clear that no amount of difficulties will stop them from pushing the vision of literacy development through a deep appreciation and fundamental adoption of correct spelling practices,” she said.

Spelling Bee Botswana founder and chairperson, Tshephang Thibedi said the book was part of the project reach. ENDS