MULTAN, Oct 7: The pool rounds of the 9th DAWN in Education Spelling Bee Competition will begin on Monday (today) at Multan Arts Council Auditorium, says a press release.

This year approximately 1,000 of the most competitive schools from across Pakistan will be participating in this engaging competition.

Over 350 students from 45 schools across different cities of southern Punjab which include Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Mailsi and Jhang are participating in the two-day Multan Pool Rounds, scheduled to be held on Oct 8 and 9.

The competition will be conducted in three age groups -- 9-11 years, 12-14 years and 15-17 years. Three students from each group will qualify for the Lahore Regional Championship which will be held on Nov 1 in Lahore.

This competition is being organised by The DAWN Media Group in partnership with the United States Embassy, Islamabad. The judges have been provided by the Oxford University Press.