Debate will boost their critical thinking skills
Nokuthula Zimo, the debate coach of the Midrand High School believes the debate victory proves her students understand current news and can think constructively.
Midrand High School debate team won a certificate after being crowned the best delegation award on April 13.
The school and 14 other schools from around Gauteng were deliberating and unpacking the recent attack by Russia to Ukraine.
The debate competition was held by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) under the annual Model United Nations programme. The theme was ‘the effects and use of nuclear or military weapons on international peace and the humanitarian crisis’.
Debate coach of the school Nokuthula Zimo said she was happy with victory the school has achieved and believes this proves her students understand current news.
“I was impressed with how they presented themselves and the school. As their coach I think they are very bright children. They are critical thinkers, even when they talk amongst themselves they, always make sure that they get their point across eloquently,” said Zimo.
She said the leaners were eager to debate face-to-face for the first time after they could not do so in the past two years because of Covid-19 outbreak.
The learners had to, among other questions to ponder on was the short and long-term effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the country, nature of military intervention in the 21st century and changes or contribution brought by the war.
“Preparations were very smooth and transparent as there was a lot of communication in our WhatsApp group. You could tell that they [learners] were watching news because of how they used to share information amongst each other on the group”.
Zimo said in the bigger scheme of things, the debate team will now debate in the national event which compromises of schools around the country.
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