By Paul Mamattah
The Ada East office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised its maiden edition of young debater’s inter-school competition for Junior High Schools at Atortorkope, a suburb of Ada.
The competition brought together four (4) schools in the Ada East district in a battle of wits to promote critical thinking, intellectual discourse, and public speaking among students from the district.
The topics for the debate centred on “Balancing freedom of expression and child protection: Is monitoring child online activities justified,” “The role of schools in promoting digital literacy to prevent child online bullying: Should it become a mandatory part of the curriculum,” and “Should political parties be legally required to commit to non-violence as part of requirements for contesting elections.”
The competing schools were King’s Kid Academy from Ada-Foh, Christ Love Academy from Kasseh, Methodist Junior High School from Big-Ada as well as Presbyterian Junior High School from Big-Ada.
In her welcome address, the Ada East District Director of the NCCE, Madam Faustina Blewusi, stated that the competition serves as a platform to nurture critical thinking, intellectual discourse, and public speaking skills among students, recognizing their pivotal role in today’s world where these skills are essential for success.
She pointed out that the NCCE has been actively promoting the spirit of patriotism among students in the Ada East district through civic education clubs, focusing on the study of the 1992 constitution.
Madam Blewusi added that the engagement with students highlighted the necessity of a programme that could help instill confidence in children, recognising the significance of critical thinking and effective communication in shaping well-rounded individuals.
The NCCE Director noted that debating, beyond being a mere competition of words, is a potent instrument for stimulating critical thinking, improving communication abilities, and encouraging the exploration of varied perspectives in our globalized world. Amidst increasing polarization, the capacity to engage in constructive dialogue emerges as a crucial skill.
The competition featured vigorous discussions among all the participating schools. Presbyterian Junior High School from Big-Ada presented a strong argument against the notion that political parties should be legally obligated to commit to non-violence as a prerequisite for contesting elections. Their performance allowed them to outperform the other three schools in the district, securing first place with a total of 150 points.
Christ Love Academy finished in second place with 140 points, while Methodist Junior High School took third with 115 points, and King’s Kid Academy rounded out the competition in fourth place with 91 points.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman for the event who also serves as the Ada West District Director of the NCCE, Samuel Etsey, advised the students to glean insights from the presentations and earnestly equip themselves to eventually lead the nation.
He urged the Ada Traditional leaders to incorporate inter-school debates for young participants into the activities lined up for the Asafotufiam festival.
This inclusion, he highlighted, would foster critical thinking, stimulate intellectual discussions, and refine public speaking skills among students in the area while also gaining national recognition.
Certificates and educational materials were given to all participants of the debate competition. In addition, Presbyterian Junior High School from Big-Ada, the competition’s winner, also received a plaque.
