Yobu Scoops 2022 Malawi Spelling Bee Championship
Yobu Mandala from Kasangu Primary School in Dowa emerged the champion in Rural Schools Category in this year’s National Spelling Bee Competition held at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre on Saturday, 2 July, 2022.
Yobu, 13, claimed the top spot among after seeing off 55 leaners in his category that saw him cart home the ultimate cash prize of K200,000 (USD200) courtesy of Victoria Forex Bureau. The boy from Kasangadzi community in Dowa also went away with assorted materials for school use such as books, instrument, hardcovers and a school bag. He also won his school a box of books from Malawi National Library Services.
And just like all good tales, Yobu was all smiles for achieving this feat.
“I am so excited to win this competition. It was not easy to become top among all those contestants. I worked so hard to master the competition words we were given,” said Yobu.
His win means that Dowa has wrestled the championship from Karonga as defending champions in the rural schools’ category. Salima district came second with Lumbani Leckson from Chinguluwe School scooping the silver medal.
Machinga emerged the most improved district during the contest with four of its representatives making it to the last round of 9. The district finished third through Abdulkarim Chikalogwe from Puteya School in Chamba Community.
The Deputy Minister of Education Hon. Monica Chang’anamuno who graced this year’s national finals as the guest of honour applauded the national spelling bee intervention improving literacy in leaners. She said this is central towards meeting one of the Malawi 2063 development outcomes in education of ensuring that every citizen has attained at least 12 years of education.
“Through the spelling bee competition, our children are being empowered with skills that will prepare them to contribute meaningfully to national development,” Hon. Chang’anamuno said.
She further commended different partners such as World Vision for supporting government in promoting literacy through various programmes. World Vision supports the Malawi Spelling Bee with organising the contest as well as training and mobilising teachers from rural schools to support the contest. The organization is further running unlock literacy and Home Schooling interventions which work with teachers, parents and children on improving learning outcomes.
World Vision Malawi Director of Programmes Charles Chimombo reiterated the organization’s commitment to support the Ministry of Education in promoting literacy across Malawi.
“Our education programme will continue to give an opportunity to learners to improve their skills through participation in various literacy and numeracy activities,” Chimombo said.
During this year’s finals, 124 learners competed in three categories of Rural school (primary), urban school (primary) and urban school (Secondary). The winner for Urban Primary was Miracle Labeck from Diversity School while Adellah Flao of Atsikana Paulendo Secondary School emerged the winner for Urban Secondary.
By McNeil Kalowekamo, Communications Officer