SA Education News

Department of Basic Education Spelling Bee South Africa

As part of the Integrated National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy: A Whole School Approach, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and as part of the Getting the Nation to Read Campaign, DBE in partnership with SABC Education, UNISA, AVBOB Foundation, Spell It SA and Camp I am and Soul Buddies hosted the National championships at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg on 10 October 2015. The DBE Spelling Bee South Africa (Spelling Bee) is aimed at improving learners’ performance in languages, especially in English.

The 2015 Spelling Bee season process started with schools responding to the call to register by filling in the attached registration form. All schools, were invited. The growth in the number of schools that enrolled for participation has grown tremendously.

Each province sent three champion spellers to represent it at the National championships mentioned above. Schools that emerged as the 2015 national champions in the Spelling Bee were: Greenfield Primary, Western Cape; Pioneer Primary, Gauteng; and Dikolobe Primary, Limpopo, respectively. However, the strength of the Spelling lies in every learner being given a chance to participate from the classroom level to the highest level possible in the competition, according to his/her capability.

Following this success, a call is hereby made for all schools to encourage learners to participate in the Spelling Bee once more in 2016. 

The procedure for participation in the 2016 Spelling Bee is to fill in the attached form which must be stamped by the school and faxed/sent through to the provincial coordinator of the Spelling Bee. Learners enrolled for home schooling are advised to request the Principal of the nearest school to stamp the form for them.

The contact details of Provincial Coordinators of the Spelling Bee are included in the table below. It will be appreciated if these forms can be submitted to DBE for auditing purposes after the closing date.

The Intermediate phase (Grade 4-6) is still the only category for the competition whose winners will proceed to the National championships. For the first time, a list of the Foundation Phase (Grade 1-3) will also be posted on the website. Schools are requested to encourage junior spellers to take part at this level. The Competition will be held only in English.

Upon receipt of the registration form, the relevant official in the province will organise a workshop to explain the rules of the competition as well as conduct elimination rounds up to the provincial level.

The DBE will receive the names of the provincial winners and host a Spelling Competition in October 2016 at a venue still to be confirmed.

The 2016 Spelling words for use by learners can be accessed on right of this page (Related Links) and also on the Thutong Portal under School Enrichment and Sport section. The participation rules will also be accessible on the same page.

The closing date for the competition will be on or before 31 May 2016.

For further enquiries, kindly contact Mr PJ Ngoepe: Sport and Enrichment on 012 357 3442, email, ngoepe.pj@dbe.gov.za.

All schools, including Special schools, are invited to enter. Participation in the programme is free.