ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: Nabeel Farhat of the EMS High School, Islamabad, became the city champion by outclassing his peers in the 15-17 age category contest at the 3rd Dawn In Education Spelling Bee held at the Islamabad Club auditorium here on Friday.

This was the third day of the contests, while the National Championship would be held on Saturday (today) at the same venue.

Zainab and Fatima Wain of the EMS High School, Islamabad shared the first runner-up position, while Hassan Hamid of the AIMS Education System, Islamabad, was declared the second runner- up.

One hundred and eighty students from 60 schools participated in this age category.

Third National Spelling Bee started here on Wednesday. A total of 200 teams from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other areas, including Dera Ismael Khan, Peshawar, Sargodha, Attock, Chakwal, Sawat, Kharian, Mangla, Abbotabad, Murree, Kohat and Azad Kashmir, are participating in the 9-11, 12- 14 and 15-17 age categories.

The winners, first runners-up and second runners-up of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad from each respective age group will be competing in the National Championship to be held at the Islamabad Club Auditorium on Saturday (today).

It was in 1998 when Dawn took up the challenge and launched Pakistan’s first and, so far, only newspaper in education programme.

The programme seeks to expand children’s horizons beyond the classroom and is designed to enhance learning.

Now happening for the third time, the D.I.E Spelling Bee needs no introduction. This year, over 400 schools from all over Pakistan are participating in what is being acclaimed as the most exiting and challenging event of the year, the Third National Spelling Bee.