S/Phikwe hosts schools debate championship

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Thursday October 18, 2012 00:00

 

The chairperson of Selebi-Phikwe Debate Society, Kelebogile Senwedi told Mmegi in an interview this week that the aim of the championships is to bring together the best young debaters in the country. The debate competition, which has been themed 'The battle of the minds' is expected to attract close to 400 students from both private and government schools.

Senwedi said the championship would be used as a platform by young people to express themselves and share ideas. He stated that youth are not yet corrupted by politics or other elements of the society.'Some of the arguments that will come up during the competition might even assist the country in mapping the way forward.

The country is faced with many challenges and young people might  have the solutions to them,' Senwedi said.He appealed to the business community to assist them financially. He noted that unlike sports codes, debate does not need equipment but only requires funds to purchase prizes for participants.

He further explained that former Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School (SPSS) students formed the Debate Society in 2009 and they are still awaiting the registration certificate from the Registrar of Societies. He stated that the mandate of the society is to teach young people how to reason, improve their communication and also build their confidence.

He said that students from all the six junior secondary schools in Selebi-Phikwe are members of the society.Senwedi pointed out that they are working towards challenging the stigma that debate is only for intelligent students. They also intend to introduce Setswana debates as a way of encouraging more students' interest.