The Great Debaters International Association (GIDA) and the provincial Department of Basic Education hosted a movie screening for schools at Ster-kinekor Maponya on Thursday last week.
The movie titled The Great Debaters was re-launched globally as a tool for learning.
Based on a true story, the movie revolves around the life of debate coach Melvin B Tolson played by Denzel Washington.
Set at the historic black Wiley College, Tolson is on a quest to place his debating team on equal footing with whites in the American South during the 1930s.
In their journey the Wiley team is faced with challenges such as racial insults and discrimination but they eventually go as far as defeating the Harvard University debating team which was the best in the country at that time.
Pupils and their teachers from schools across the province got a chance to view the movie which was followed by a presentation at the cinema foyer.
Different speakers motivated pupils and encouraged them to take up debating.
One of the speakers was matric pupil Kitumetse Sibete who shared her experiences as a debater with GIDA.
She challenged others to take up debating as it broadens ones perspective and ended by saying a debating nation is a succeeding nation.
The event was also graced by former members of GIDA who are now studying at universities.
They were there to share their stories on how debating has helped them to be where they currently are.
Nonkululeko Ndlela was representing the MEC for education who could not make it to the event.
Ndlela said the MEC and the department are very excited about the programme and they are positive that it will contribute in producing bright minds.
She said: “When the province sends pupils to the world, we want to send only the best because only the best can compete with the world’s best.”
Fika Mbambo who is the founder of GIDA said he started the organisation to help schools debate critically. Mbambo highlighted the importance of research and using the library by debaters.
He said debating can help pupils with their academic progress. GIDA plans to expand the programme next year and make it even better by releasing a debating manual which has been written by Mbambo himself.
