Writing and reading are great attributes in learning. As part of promoting this culture in schools, last month The New Times Publications launched a writing competition for primary schools. The competition is open to all primary schools in the country.

The best weekly entries are published every Wednesday and the competition will be crowned with a grand prize giving ceremony for the best entries. Below are the best entries for this week. Look out for the best weekly entries every Wednesday. -------------------------Essence of writing and readingReading and writing are two important activities that pupils, students, parents and several other people can be involved in. Reading means looking at something written or printed and understanding it or saying out loud while writing is the ability to form words, letters or symbols on a paper or some other surface using a pen, pencil or a piece of chalk. In this piece of writing I will talk about the essence of reading and writing. Reading helps people in carrying out research. Reading entertains people and reading helps students acquire knowledge. Writing helps a person get a good job, it is a way of communicating. Reading makes us informed about the past.Reading helps people in carrying out research.In primary, secondary and university teachers normally don’t teach everything. To learn more about taught contents pupils or students read books and get to understand even what the teacher did not tell them.Besides acquiring knowledge, reading is a best way of entertaining ourselves,Normally when people are bored they watch T.V or they browse on internet.  To me I don’t see those as the best choices because watching too much T .V spoils our eyes the same with staying too long on a desktop computer or laptop.Reading helps students learn more words in English, as well as other Languages.When you go to a library you pick up a book and start reading, you may find words you don’t understand so you check the dictionary to know the meaning. In doing so you are learning new words.Writing skills give a person more chances of getting and maintaining jobs.There is no job that doesn’t require writing skills i.e. teachers need to write on the chalkboard, a secretary types words, a head teacher needs to write reports.Writing is the best way of communicating our thoughts.When people are discussing in emails they write, people who send each other letters also have to write. People who have relatives that live very far communicate by writing to each other.Reading makes us informed about the past.People who wrote information long ago before they died, their information still exists because of their writing abilities.I encourage youth to pick up books and read them. I encourage parents to buy books for their children and persuade them to make it a habit to read one book in a week. Let me remind you that reading will increase your knowledge and writing will always help you store information. May God bless you abundantly.

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 I want to be a heroine

I want to be a heroineI would like to be a heroineA hero fights for the countryI want to be that heroine.I will never give upI say it againI will be a heroineI can’t stop saying it!I will serve my country RwandaI will serve myself and my parentsWith my education,I will serve the world.I will fight for my countryI will fight against evilI will fight for freedomI will defend my country.Fellow countrymenJoin me lets’ become heroesLets’ work together in peace,With love and unityYou can become a hero.

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‘Encouraging creativity for sustainability and development’. Submit your creative work. Stand a chance of winning great grand prizes. To participate, simply send your entries including:• Essays  •  Drawings and paintings  • Or any other creative work to the following addresses:education@newtimes.co.rweditorial@newtimes.co.rwThe New Times Publications Ltd P.O. BOX 4953, Kigali or drop your entries physically at The New Times Publications Ltd. Head office in Kigali (Immeuble Aigle Blanc, Opposite MINIJUST, Kimihurura). Submissions should be made weekly on Fridays and The New Times Publications Ltd will publish them on  Wednesdays in the Education Times pullout.Winning entries will be announced and published weekly and the ultimate winners will be awarded after two months in a grand ceremony.Test your creativity and be a winnerFor more information call: 0782859324/0788545293

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A sudden storm

Trees swaying from side to side,Lightening comes out of the hide,Followed by thunder that comes like a bomb,Children running, jumping and shouting,"Where are you going?” teachers wonder!"Come back,” a teacher is heard screaming,Laughing very first, the children run faster.Rain drops on the ground,The gate keeper puts on his cap,Children run faster and faster,The teacher tries to teach,But their message does not seem to reach,The children start to shoutAs if they have a fight.The storm begins to calm down,The children begin to frown like no clown,"Hurry!” the teachers cry,It will soon be dry.