The 6th edition of the Spelling Bee officially started last Friday. The Spelling Bee is a literacy programme which teaches primary school children the effective use of the English Language; it also equips their teachers with the approaches to teaching the English Language. This year’s competition has as its theme, "Unearthing our Speller-brities". An estimated 200 schools are expected to participate in The Spelling Bee 2012-2013. The Spelling Bee is the local version of the Scripps National Spelling Bee of the USA. Organisers, Young Educators Foundation say, “Children and young persons are at the core of everything we do. "We believe they are all leaders in their own right and not future leaders as they are often referred to. As such, their efforts and achievements must be celebrated, hence our chosen theme”. Earlier in the year, teachers of participating schools received training in spelling techniques and methods of teaching English. This year’s competition will travel to 8 out of the 10 regions in the country. At the regional competitions, participating schools from that particular region or community will compete amongst themselves and the best spellers will win a trip to Accra for a week’s stay in February of 2013. No more than 100 spellers are expected to compete at the national finals. Highlights of the competition will be aired on TV early next year. The top prize is a trip to the USA to participate in the 86th Scripps National Spelling as Ghana’s (and Africa’s only) representative. All participating spellers will receive sponsor products. Some corporate organisations are sponsoring selected public schools to participate in this year’s competition. They include MTN Ghana Foundation, Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, Public Affairs Section-US Embassy, Multichoice Ghana and Indomie Instant Noodles. Indomie Instant Noodles is the title sponsor of The Spelling Bee 2012-2013 and MTN Ghana Foundation is a co-sponsor. Other partners include Type Company Ltd, JOY FM, MultiTV for Kids, Graphic Communications Group, Ghana Education Service, Ecobank Junior Saver Account, Muscatella, Rufus Green Parks, Voltic, Delta Air Lines, US Peace Corps Volunteers and Sytris Bookshop. Young Educators Foundation, (YEF) is a local NGO dedicated to children’s education in Ghana. Our primary mission is to improve the lives of children and youth through literacy. As such, we run other programmes that will help achieve our mission; these are The Young Debaters (TYD), S.T.A.R.S and The Science Fair (TSF). For more information, please contact Abena Anim-Adjei, Programmes Co-ordinator, Young Educators Foundation 2nd Flr, C&G House, Kisseiman Junction Achimota- Accra. Tel: +233 302 924322 Mob:+233 249106220