Considering the recent PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) 2021 report that revealed that 81% of SA Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, Nal’ibali and TNF’s Khula Funda Literacy programme has created a spelling bee and story writing competition to spread love for learning and build a reading culture amongst primary school children in Soweto, Gauteng. The Nal’ibali - TNF Khula Funda Literacy Programme which has been in existence for a year, is a school-based project operationalised in seven primary schools in the Bram Fischerville community in Soweto. The project is centred around strengthening reading for fun in the foundation phase classroom environment to sustain learner outcomes through literacy development activities such running in-school reading clubs, as book loaning system, play-based learning activities and reading aloud to help children develop a love for reading for enjoyment.  

About the competition 

• What: Nal’ibali and TNF spelling bee and story writing competition 
• When: 4 August 2023 
• Why: To build a culture of reading aloud and interest in literacy amongst learners at the seven TNF Khula-Funda Literacy programme schools in Soweto. 
• How: By getting schools under the Nal’ibali and TNF project to take part in the storytelling and spelling bee competition, and awarding prizes at the end.                                                                                                                                                                                             Participating schools: The seven Bram Fischerville schools to be supported are: Bram Fischer Primary School, JB Marks Primary School, Julius Sebolai Primary School, Khulanolwazi Primary School, Moses Kotane Primary School, Nkone Maruping Primary School, and Nomzamo Madikizela Mandela Primary School.  

Nal'ibali- TNF’s Khula-Funda Literacy programme is giving away 10 RAC packs, 10 story boards, and 500 supplements to a lucky school(s) in Soweto through Diepkloof Community Radio. The seven primary schools under the Khula-Funda  Literacy Programme will compete for the prizes in the following activities: 

Spelling Bee competition 

Prize - 5 RAC packs, 5 storyboards, and 250 supplements to the winning school

Story writing competition 

    Prize- 5 RAC packs, 5 storyboards, and 250 supplements to the winning school.

How the competition will work: 

Each of the seven schools under the Funda-Khula Literacy Programme will host an internal spelling bee and story writing competition. When the internal competition at the various primary schools is complete, each of the  primary schools will have two winners (one for the spelling bee and one for story writing) who will participate in the in the interschool competition.  

Seven spelling bee and story writing winners  from all seven primary school under the Funda-Khula Literacy Programme will compete at an intimate event hosted live on air on Diepkloof Community Radio on 4 August 2023. Only schoolteachers, Diepkloof FM, parents, competition judges and contestants will be allowed to enter the venue. At the end of the spelling bee and story writing competition, a panel of judges chosen by the Nal’ibali and The Trevor Noah Foundation will announce the winners of the spelling bee and the story writing competition live on Diepkloof Community Radio.