South Sudan

National Spelling Bee

Spell That Word!

We work to improve the reading and spelling skills of South Sudanese students and pupils.

Unleashing children's imaginations and fostering 21st-century skills

Vision

Our vision is to help South Sudan achieve its goal of providing high-quality education

Mission

To assist kids and teachers in improving their spelling, expanding their vocabulary, learning ideas, and developing proper English usage that will benefit them throughout their life.

Goal

Our goal is to promote literacy and improve English skills in South Sudan

About Us

The South Sudan National Spelling Bee (SSNSB) is a project of the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan (EFSS), a non-governmental organisation registered with the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) and endorsed by the National Ministry of General Education and Instruction to run the competition nationally and represent South Sudan at international Spelling Bee competitions. The Spelling Bee is an annual competition for children that aims to improve literacy, unleash children's imaginations, and foster 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. It is intended to make learning enjoyable and exciting for children while also enabling them to learn in a positive manner.

The organisation is concerned about the numerous mistakes that students and even writers make when using English terminology. This is why spelling bees are held among South Sudanese schoolchildren and students to encourage precise spelling of commonly used terms and to improve students' comprehension. This is a one-of-a-kind initiative that combines competition and fun to help our teachers succeed in the classroom.

The tournament is open to both primary and secondary school students. The tournament will take place at three different levels: county, state, and national. County Stage winners will compete in the State Finals for a chance to win a Grand Prize as well as other prizes. National Champions will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to represent South Sudan at the African Spelling Bee.

Our Objectives

We share the collective objectives of the African Spelling Bee:

To improve literacy and academic excellence.
To build and sustain a reading culture.
To develop self-esteem, confidence & interpersonal skills.
To develop human capital through capacity building.
To promote community-based partnerships.
To celebrate the cultural diversity and unity of the African Child.

Our Aims

To improve the grammar and vocabulary of children in first-cycle institutions so that they have very little to struggle with as they advance academically.
To instill confidence in youngsters by providing a platform for them to overcome shyness, fear, and intimidation, as well as be able to confront a crowd, a panel of pronouncers, and judges wherever they go.
To instill the habit of reading in our youngsters, which will have far-reaching implications for all other subjects and, in turn, increase the country's educational level.

Why spelling in South Sudan?

As individuals progress through different stages of life, they will need to generate reports and documents. Proficiency in spelling is crucial for most professions, as is the ability to communicate, take notes, and comply with instructions.

English serves as the global language for diplomacy, foreign trade, civil aviation, and other industries. Therefore, South Sudanese individuals employ English not just for communicating with people from other nations (international engagement) but also for conversing with fellow South Sudanese (national interaction).

The program's long-term benefits will include, among other things:

Improving reading skills and culture in South Sudan
Improved communication skills, a favorable first impression, and long-lasting memories
Effective and efficient expression of complex ideas, as well as successful professionals

Want to be part of us?

Do you wish to be part of the South Sudan National Spelling Bee?
You can register to become a judge or coach in the forthcoming competition

Be a judge

Be a coach

Are you a school?

Background of Spelling Bee

A spelling bee is a competition in which participants must spell words correctly.

The spelling bee concept is considered to have originated in the United States of America, and it is now held in a number of nations throughout the world, including South Sudan. Frank Neuhauser, who won the 1st National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in 1925 at the age of eleven, was the first official spelling bee winner.

Historically, the word "bee" has been used to denote a gathering of people who are performing a certain task, such as a husking bee, a quilting bee, or an apple bee. Its origin is unknown, however, it is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bn," which means "prayer."

History

The word spelling bee first appeared in literature in 1850, however, an earlier name, spelling match, may be traced all the way back to 1808.

Noah Webster's spelling books were a major driving force behind the competitions. For five generations, Webster's spelling books, first published in 1786 and known popularly as "The Blue-backed Speller," were an integral part of the curriculum for all primary school children in the United States.