Winner ESHS Students and Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). Photo: GIS

This is according to a press release from the Government Information Service (GIS) dated Thursday, March 14, 2019, which states that the finals were held on March 13, 2019, at the Althea Scatliffe Court Yard between the Cedar School International and the Elmore Stoutt High School.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley applauded the efforts of the persons involved in organising the debate competition and further encouraged similar teaching tools for students.

He said, “Debates are an important part of the democratic process and we need much more in our society.  We need to teach our young people skills such as critical thinking, information literacy skills, and how to deal with conflict, and based on what I see here today, we are on the right track.”

The competition began on February 4, 2019, with the participation of most secondary schools including St. George’s Secondary, Cedar International, Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Ciboney Centre for Excellence, Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, Elmore Stoutt High School and the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary Division.

The Inter Secondary School Debates are organised with the purpose of developing the skills of students by communicating effectively, debating their points, and practice public speaking abilities.