Josh Jailall, of the Swami Pumanda Primary School, has won the Region Four Primary-level’s Spelling Bee competition.
According to a press release from the Region Four Public Relations Department, nine winners from the various clusters of the region’s Department of Education faced off in the regional finals to determine who would represent the region at the upcoming national spelling bee competition.
Apart from Jailall, the other finalists were Renuka Somwaru, of Virginia Primary; Jasmine Jairam, of Annandale Primary; Anneisa Rampersaud, of Dora Primary; Amar Gordon, of St Paul’s Primary; Nicholol Morris, of Kuru Kururu Primary; and Leikshaya Lakhraj of New Diamond Grove Primary.
The competition was initially divided into three rounds, the release explained, while noting that a tie breaker round had to be added to determine the third place winner. Lakhraj placed second, while Morris placed third.
Both Jailall and Lakhraj were awarded tablets by sponsor ANSA McAL, while Morris received a book award of $10,000.
The competition, which was organised by the Literacy Division of the Department of Education, saw a number of primary school students and teachers in attendance. Barbara Richards, Literacy Coordinator, noted that this year the students were not given the words to prepare; instead, they were told about the topics with which the words are associated, thereby allowing for an element of surprise.
According to the release, Tiffany Harvey, acting Regional Education Officer, expressed her excitement to be at the competition and stated that her department is committed to supporting and organising such activities as they intend to improve educational standards in the region. “We are the best region, we have the best students and we will continue to lead the way in terms of ensuring activities like these continue,” Harvey was quoted as saying.
She told the students that no matter the outcome of the competition, they should not give up and continue to pursue spelling. “While you are all champions, only one of you will go on to the national finals but the good thing is whoever wins we, as a region, will come together and work with the student so as to ensure they can bring the title to this region. We are happy with the standard of spelling among the students within our region and that is why I firmly believe that you are all deserving of praises and best wishes,” Harvey told the students.
