Mackenzie High, the opposing team, emerged winner with 290 points while Skeldon Line Path Secondary gained 279 points on Tuesday when they competed in the finals of the JOF Haynes debating competition at the National Cultural Centre.
The two teams put forward arguments surrounding the moot ‘Students should be punished for failing to report cheating’, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.
And the winning school was awarded a computer system and printer by Metro Office Supplies’ Sales Manager, Lincoln Callender. In addition, trophies were presented to the respective team members for their efforts.
Students from various secondary schools turned up at the National Cultural Centre to witness the finals.
Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Pulandar Kandhi lauded the annual debating competition for its contribution towards the development of students’ research and public-speaking skills.
He emphasised that the co-curricular activity of debating and speaking at the house level at schools and between schools should be formally placed on the ministry’s calendar of activities, since it brings out talents.
He noted that in the earlier years the rivalry in debating competitions was more than that in cricket and athletics.
Assistant Chief Education Officer – Secondary (ag.), Doodmatie Singh noted that the debating competition is an annual event organized by the Education Ministry’s secondary department and the competition is in its 28th year. It was initiated and sponsored by JOF Haynes, an outstanding scholar who started his professional life as a school teacher before moving on to be recognized as the most brilliant lawyer of his time.
The initial stages of the competition involved students throughout the regions, which resulted in the best debating team representing the education district at the national level which began in September as part of Education Month activities.
The final debate was judged by Senior Test Development Officer – NCERD, Cecilia Holder; Deputy Chief Education Officer – Development, Bibi Ali and Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) Lecturer, Lurine Meertins, the release added.
