In 1998, DAWN became the first newspaper in Pakistan (and so far the only one) to launch a Newspaper in Education Programme (NIE). Such Programmes are widely practiced by leading newspapers in Europe, North and South America and Asia.

Spelling bees organised worldwide are a common phenomenon at both regional and national levels in various countries. A Spelling Bee is essentially a spelling competition amongst school children and is organised at school level. Winners then participate in a regional / national inter school-spelling contest. As part of DAWN In Education Programme, DAWN conducted the first ever National Spelling Championship in Pakistan in Jan-Feb 2005.