Education Officer Shaharazade Atkinson, Fharis Mohamed, third-place winner Nicholoi Morris, second-place finisher Leikshaya Lakhraj and winner Josh Jailall with Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas and Literacy Coordinator Barbra Richards
The winners of the nine clusters of the Department of Education Region Four Spelling Bee competition met in a grand showdown to determine the Region’s representative to the national finals.
The nine winners competing in the Regional Finals were Renuka Somwaru of Virginia Primary, Jasmine Jairam of Annandale Primary, Anneisa Rampersaud of Dora Primary, Amar Gordon of St Paul’s Primary, Nicholoi Morris of Kuru Kuru Primary, Jamaul John of Eccles Primary, Olicia Joseph of Kuru Kururu Primary, Leikshaya Lakhraj of New Diamond-Grove Primary and Josh Jailall of Swami Pumanda Primary.
Head of the Literacy Division, Barbara Richards told those in attendance that while in previous years the pupils were given the words so that they can adequately prepare, this year’s competition was executed differently.
“Today’s competition is different as you, the competitors, were only given the topics, and I am glad to recognise that we are blessed in Region Four with a number of highly-intelligent students who can properly represent us,” Richards noted.
Acting Regional Education Officer Tiffany Harvey reiterated her Department’s commitment to supporting and organising activities that were similar in nature while stating that it sought to improve the educational standards within the Region.
The competition was divided into three rounds with those failing to spell any word being knocked out at the end of the round. However, in determining the third-place winner, there was a tie and another round was added to end the tie breaker.
In rounds one and two, two students each were eliminated, while after the tie breaker, Nicholoi Morris of Kuru Kuru copped third place with Leikshaya Lakhraj of New Diamond-Grove Primary placing second and Josh Jailall of Swami Pumanda Primary emerging victorious.
Josh was awarded, along with the second-place winner, a tablet, compliments of ANSA McAL, while Morris won himself a book award of $10,000.
Meanwhile, ANSA McAL Brand Coordinator Al Fharis Mohamed said that his company was pleased to be supporting yet another venture by the Region Four Education Department.
He stressed that his company remained committed to the development of education, noting that the youths were certainly the future leaders and ANSA McAL would continue to play its part.
