The 2022 edition of the JOF Haynes Memorial Inter-Secondary School Debating Competition was launched yesterday and the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School emerged as the winner of the first round against the Fort Wellington Secondary School.
A release from the Ministry of Education said that the competition was launched in Region Five at the Latchmansingh Primary School Annex.
The two teams debated the moot: The rapid increase in private schooling in Guyana is an indictment of the public education system.
The release said that the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School, the opposition, was represented by Crystal Smartt (1st speaker), Quincie Andrews (2nd speaker) and Masani Jordan (3rd speaker). The team scored 268 points and Jordan was adjudged the best speaker.
The Fort Wellington Secondary School, the proposing side, scored 244 points and was represented by Christal Welch (1st speaker), Tejwattie Sirirampersaud (2nd speaker) and Basmattie Chrisendat (3rd speaker).
Assistant Chief Educa-tion Officer with responsibility for Secondary Education, Tiffany Harvey, officially declared the competition open. She said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the competition to be held virtually over the past two years but that nothing beats face-to-face competition and that it was good to have it return to its normal mode.
