Spelling competition exposes poor standards, more still needs to be done to bring public school pupils up to speed with private school kids
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Poor performance of public school pupils and those in orphanages in Abuja in a recent Spelling Bee competition has led to calls for raising education standards in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) superintended by Nyesom Wike as Minister.
Project Hope Spelling Bee Season 5, organised by Paraclete Hope Foundation in collaboration with Helpline Social Support Initiative, saw pupils from public, orphanage, and private schools come together to spell and win prizes in different categories.
The competition comprised two categories of contestants, A and B.
David Emomotimi of Legacy Learning Hills Academy, New Karu, Abuja, came first in Category A; Chigozie Chinweike second and Solomon Confidence third – both of Commanders of Destiny Academy, New Nyanya, Nasarawa.
In Category B, Oche David of Grace and Honour College, New Karu, clinched the first position; Obasi Grace of Commanders of Destiny College second, and Greatness Gideon of Legacy Learning Hills Academy third.
According to reporting by LEADERSHIP newspaper, it stood out clearly at the event that pupils of public schools and orphanages have a long way to go, with glaring differences in their ability to spell words.
Anthony Okpo, an FCT educationist, appealed for increased support from the public sector to sustain literacy programmes.
“More has to be done to ensure that children at the orphanages are not just housed to draw sympathy from the public, but should truly and thoroughly enjoy learning and learning facilities,” he said.
Not all contestants ended up winning prizes, but many left with new motivation and valuable feedback from the judges.
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