-as Chegutu based Westview College promises fireworks in maiden appearance
MIDWEEK REPORTER
Spelling Bee Zimbabwe which is the brain child of USA based Advocate James Bayanai is now covering the whole nation including rural schools although it started from humble beginnings in Harare.
Zimbabwe Spelling Bee is a program that is coordinated by Zimbabwe Youth Development Foundation Trust (ZYDFT), a not for profit organization that promotes literacy in Zimbabwe.
ZYDFT is registered through a trust deed in the country and the desire of Spelling Bee is to afford scholars an opportunity to learn words through sportsmanship.
ZYDFT has successfully coordinated Zimbabwe National Spelling Bee Championships in previous years and has reached over 5 000 scholars in its programme.
Zimbabwe Spelling Bee is supported by various institutions such as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe UN as well as the United States Embassy.
Zimbabwe Spelling Bee started in 2015 and its mandate is to go around schools for spelling championships, promote literacy and create educational opportunities for learners.
The national coordinator is Eneresi Chomsora who is based in Harare said last year very few schools took part in the competitions, but said this year they will cover the whole country.
“Last year the competitions were held at Charles Austin for Masvingo Province where South Eastern College, Pamushana High school, Kyle Preparatory took part.
Goldrich Primary in Kwekwe and Kyle Preparatory from Masvingo in the juniors category and seniors category Prince of Grace in Chegutu won the national finals and runners up were Lomagundi College from Chinhoyi and Sharon Junior of Harare.
The schools went on to represent the country in continental finals held in Uganda where Kyle came third as well as Sharon.
This year the competitions are much bigger as Harare has three zones and Zone One held the competitions two weeks ago at Naty Junior School along Bulawayo Road.
Last week Harare Zone 2 held their competitions and this week Zone 3 will hold theirs at Wise Owl School.
Beginning March Chitungwiza, Victoria Falls, Gwanda, Bulawayo and Mashonaland West will hold their finals.
Chomsora said invitations are send to all the schools and they pay a participation fee of US$10 per participant.
In May the team proceeds to Gweru, Manicaland, Marondera and in September the Masvingo finals will be held at Charles Austin, Chiredzi and Pamushana High School in Bikita.
“We are going to select 40 participants from the country’s 10 provinces and 20 will be juniors and 20 seniors for the national finals,” said Chomsora.
Meanwhile, Westview College in Chegutu which is going to take part in the prestigious championships for the first time has promised to bring the trophy home.
The school team will be led by veteran trip organiser and multi award winning Geography teacher, Oliver Zvabva.
“We are aiming for the best and we bring the honors home from Chinhoyi in the seniors category, we will not settle for anything but the best. We have a solid team which is very sharp and raring to go,” said Zvabva.
Zvabva has been behind all Westview College’s trips as he also teaches Travel and Tourism at the elite school.
Last year he won prizes of being the best teacher after posting 100% pass rate in the subjects that he teaches.
The prizes were sponsored by Chartmart Technologies and Motorspecs Pvt Ltd.
Zvabva is a holder of Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Masters in Sociology of Education and currently studying for a PhD with the University of South Africa.
He has organised highly successful school trips to Victoria Falls, Binga, Chinhoyi Caves, Nyanga and Chimanimani.
“As of now we are arranging a historic seven day educational trip to Dubai, where we are going to learn about land forms being forms in hot deserts-vacant dunes. How best can we turn a desert into a productive farmland/Greenland,” said Zvabva.
The Spelling Bee national finals will be held in Harare in November and in the same month the continental finals will be held in Abuja, Nigeria on dates to be advised.
