Persuasive arguments and excellent counter arguments were at the order of the day when 24 debate teams from different schools took to the floor at Maseala Progressive School and Khaiso High School recently for the first round of the Polokwane Mayoral Debate tournament.
Although the first round of the competition is regarded as a non-elimination round, speakers and floor-members did their best and proved to their opponents that they were ready for the challenge. Maurdy Dunster Outreach Programme facilitator at Polokwane City Library, said 52 teams affiliated to be part of the tournament, 22 in the senior and 30 in the junior category.
Dunster said the motion for the first round was ‘Bearing in mind that other official languages may be taught as school subjects: English as the common language of learning and teaching ensures the development of economic and social relations for the future of all South Africans’
The non-elimination round was expected to end last Wednesday with the last 28 teams debating at Frans Mohlala High School while the second round was expected to start yesterday (Wednesday).
Dunster said they were confident that the tournament will run smoothly until they crown the champions in August. The defending champions in the junior category is Eagle’s Nest Christian School while Northern Academy is defending the senior title. She indicated that the primary purpose of the contest was to develop learners’ thinking capacity and enhance their research skills.
Dunster went on to say motions for the debates are based on the current affairs and this affords learners an opportunity to research about what is happening around them. She highlighted that the winners of the tournament receive a floating trophy and developmental books. She further said they were planning to host workshops for less exposed schools in rural areas to educate them about debate for them to be able to argue on the stage. The results for the first round are as follows:
Kgakoa Secondary School as the opposition team won the battle against Luthuli High School, Bokamoso High School walloped Westenburg High School, PEPPS Preparatory School and College beat Tshebela High School, St Bedes Secondary School outcompeted Mamolemane Secondary School while Maseala Progressive School proved their point better than Masedibu Secondary School.
Noorderland High School A-team beat Taxila Secondary School, Capricorn High School won against ME Makgato Secondary School, St Brendan’s Catholic Secondary School beat Mountain View High School while Boetse High School finished first against Stanford Lake College. Seshigo High School outcompeted Nare High School, Ramathope High School walloped Noorderland Jnr B-team while Khaiso High School tabled arguments more persuasive than that of Flora Park Comprehensive High School.
Story and photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
