A spelling bee that was hosted by a local school in April aimed to develop the literacy skills of its students.
This is according to Shafiek Jacobs, principal of Pieter Langeveldt Primary. The spelling bee was the second such event hosted at Pieter Langeveldt Primary, he said.
Pieter Langeveldt Primary in Cloetesville. PHOTO: Kyra Rensburg
“My plan is that everyone must learn to read and write,” said Jacobs.
When Jacobs was appointed as principal in 2019, he noticed that many students were not able to read. This prompted him to start a library at the school, and hold the school’s first spelling bee in October 2020, he told MatieMedia.
“The principal must have a school improvement plan,” said Jacobs. The goal is to create a strong foundation for learners so that they can get into universities and become professionals one day, he said.
Volunteers at the spelling bee hand out prizes to the participants. PHOTO: Kyra Rensburg
The prizes for the Pieter Langeveldt spelling bee, which were awarded to the first three winners in each grade, were sponsored by Woorde Open Wêrelde (WOW).
The WOW project forms part of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Woordfees, and also hosts an annual spelling festival, according to Fiona van Kerwel, project manager of WOW. In preparation for this competition, Pieter Langeveldt Primary used the WOW spelling lists for their spelling bee, she added.
SU society partners with Pieter Langeveldt Primary
Meanwhile, members of the United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA) youth literacy project at Stellenbosch University have also partnered with Pieter Langeveldt Primary to promote skills development, said Lebone Moiloa, the youth literacy coordinator with UNASA, in a written response.
“[O]ur focus is education and ensuring that young students have the correct foundation and skills, like reading with understanding,” said Moiloa.
Members of the programme visit the school once a week to assist students with English studies, according to Moiloa.
“[The principal] shares the same vision as us about the importance of creating a strong foundation for tomorrow’s leaders, so he has created their spelling bee to promote that,” said Moiloa.
The UNASA youth literacy programme assisted students with preparation for the spelling bee, and participated in the competition as judges, added Moiloa.
Members of the United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA) youth literacy project at Stellenbosch University assisted as judges at Pieter Langebeld Primary’s recent spelling bee. The judges hold up a green card if a word is spelled correctly, and a red card if a word is spelled incorrectly. PHOTO: Kyra Rensburg