Lady Julia challenges parents to develop reading habits of children

The wife of the Asantehene, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, has challenged parents to help in forming the reading habit of children from the home.

She said much as teachers played a significant role in moulding the education of children, parents should let literacy begin from the home.

Lady Julia said this in a speech read on her behalf by the Amakomhene, Nana Adu Asare, at the launch of the 2020 National Spelling Bee final at the Manhyia Palace.

She said developing the habit to read and spell words must be supported by parents.

Spelling Bee

One hundred and fifty pupils are expected to be hosted by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in January next year for the national final.

The winner of the 13th edition will represent Ghana at the world event in the United States of America (USA).

The first and second runners up will receive a round trip ticket from Kenya Airways for a holiday.

Already, the finalists have been selected from regional contests.

Lady Julia said spelling built the confidence level of children and also helped in their writing skills.

She called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to factor the competition in its yearly budget for support.

Sponsorship

The Country Director of Young Educators Foundation, organisers of the competition, Mrs Eugenia Tachie-Menson, said the survival of the project depended heavily on finance and appealed to corporate Ghana to support the programme.

A number of organisations, including the US Embassy in Ghana, are helping to expand and improve on the competition but Mrs Tachie-Menson said more hands were needed for its survival.

Champion

In attendance was the 2019 champion, Master Kwabena Adu Darko-Asare, who shared his experience with Manhyia.

He placed 67th at the world event.

He expressed optimism that with the right coaching and hard work, a Ghanaian could win the world competition.