by Sasha Silovo – EM TV Online
The nationally acclaimed IBS School Debate will commence it’s elimination round tomorrow, Wednesday 29 October at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby.
Developing young leaders of our nation, the IBS National School Debate competition “PNG…Em Mi Yah” awareness campaign will see an ultimate battle of young minds with representatives from 10 provinces (and schools) go through a series of debate sessions.
Earlier today saw the debaters coached on the art of debating, and on topics for discussions, all based on PNG’s national strategy for responsible and sustainable development. The coaching session aimed at preparing the young debaters for the commencement of the debate championships tomorrow.
According to the official program, the debate competition will begin at 9:30am with the first debate being between the Minj Secondary School (for) and the Mt Diamond Secondary School (against) debating the topic “revenue from the energy sector should be used to fund SMEs”.
The second debate session’s topic “government should pass laws that are people an environment friendly” will see the Port Moresby International School Highlands (for) battle it out with the Highlands Lutheran International School (against).
Milne Bay’s Cameron Secondary will challenge Dame Secondary, the latter being for the topic “sustained high birth rate is a threat to the local economy” and Cameron going against the topic of debate.
Shortly after 1pm, IEA’s Coronation College will debate out the topic “the government should prioritise in developing water systems to generate wealth” with the Utu Secondary School. The Lae debaters go ‘against’ the debate topic with Utu going ‘for’ it.
The final debate session is between Goroka Secondary (for) and East New Britain team (against) with the topic “the government should empower the agriculture sector/agro-business through more funding to boost the economy.
This year’s official sponsor is the Department of National Planning and Monitoring with other major and support sponsors. The debaters had the opportunity to meet sponsors in a ‘sponsors meet and greet’ this evening which also included parents, teachers, principals and organisers.
