LAHORE: The second edition of the Pakistan Spelling Bee (pakistanspellingbee.com) competition for grades 3-10, in English and Urdu languages, is being held at a private school in Johar Town on Saturday (today).

Over 650 schools from all over Pakistan, including public schools, are taking part in the Pakistan Spelling Bee, making it the nation’s biggest, most inclusive education event.

Storykit (storykit.com), which is organizing the event at the Trinity School, has previously conducted field projects in education with, and for, local and international organizations, including UNESCO, Google, Google Foundation, NRSP and others.

The Lahore Regional Championship was the first of several regional championships planned in eight cities between September and December, 2024. In addition to Lahore, regional championships will be held in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gilgit, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, with representation by public and private schools. The first, second and third place winners will be announced for each of the eight participating grades in both English and Urdu language regional championships. These winners will qualify to participate in the National Championship to be held in Islamabad in December.

Musharraf Ali Farooqi, the co-founder of Storykit and the executive director of Pakistan Spelling Bee, says that inclusivity is his aim from the conception of the project and it has been achieved by including an Urdu Spelling Bee and making successful outreach to public schools. The Urdu Spelling Bee rules, which are the first of their kind, were devised under the guidance of Urdu lexicographer Professor Abdur Rasheed.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2024