MDPS hosts lively debate

Alushe Flashman and Innocent Ndjiku
  • 1 Day Ago
On 25 July, Maurits Devenish Private School hosted a 'Straight Talk' debate.

From 14:00 to 18:00, students and faculty came together, diving into thought-provoking discussions on a variety of topics. This event, which is known for its open and inclusive vibe, encouraged everyone to share their opinions and engage in respectful dialogue. Topics covering a wide variety of issues, including current events.

The debate offered a fantastic opportunity for students to sharpen their critical thinking skills and commit to discussing their perspectives. Plus, it created a sense of community and sparked a whole lot of intellectual curiosity within the school.

Teams from Gabriel Taapopi, Mweshipandeka SS, Maurits Devenish and Oshakati SS faced off in a battle of ideas.

Each team consisted of three debaters, who passionately argued their positions on a variety of thought-provoking topics.

Big topics

The debate featured six compelling motions: voting should be compulsory; schools should allow students to use ChatGPT or similar programmes for assignments; the voting age should be reduced to 16; the government should increase funding to public libraries; homeschooling should be banned; and government should create guidelines to regulate Al.

The teams were each well prepared and eager to prove their debating talent.

The exchanges were competitive and intense, with the opposing teams demonstrating strong arguments, sharp rebuttals and confident deliveries.

The atmosphere was electric as each school fought each other in a tightly contested event.

Despite their loss, Maurits Devenish's team held their heads high, recognising the value of the experience gained.

It was clear that the team's resilience and willingness to learn will serve them well in future competitions. As this was only their first taste of competitive debating, there is no doubt they will return stronger and more prepared next time.

Congratulations are due to the winning school, Gabriel Taapopi, while the Maurits Devenish team looks forward to the challenge of meeting them again in the future.