Over 350 Students From 21 Schools Across The UAE And Middle East Participate In The 3Rd Annual Debate Dubai Challenge
GEMS students from Jumeirah College, will go on to represent the UAE in the World Schools Debating Championships in January 2013
Debate Dubai, the largest inter-school debating competition of its kind in the Middle East recently took place at GEMS Jumeirah College.
With over 350 students from 21 schools from across the UAE and the Middle East, the 3rd annual debate had students delivering impromptu and prepared motions, such as “This house believes that the environment should be prioritised over the economy” and “This house believes torture is never justified.”
In the Open Division, the team from Jumeirah College were declared the winners in a high-calibre final with Dubai College on the motion “This House believes that conscripted soldiers who are genuinely following orders should not be convicted of war crimes.” Four of the speakers represented in the final, Taahir Munshi and Quito Tsui both from Jumeirah College and Owen Over and Aarya Mishra from Dubai College will go on to represent the UAE in the World Schools Debating Championships in January 2013.
Taahir Munshi from Jumeriah College who was part of the winning team, also won the prize for best individual speaker, said “Debate Dubai has grown in stature over the last three years and now offers the opportunity for some international class debating. I think everyone who participated thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
In the 16 and Under Division, Cambridge International School emerged as the victors, defeating Jumeirah College in the final on the motion “This House would prohibit international adoption.” Cambridge International student Sara Syed declared “The standard of debating this year was higher than ever before. Winning the 16 and Under Division and retaining our title as champions was quite unbelievable. It was, as always, a magnificent experience!" In the 14 and Under Division, debating “This House would ban Happy Meals”, Jumeirah College defeated Repton College.
Debate Dubai is open to secondary school students. This year’s edition featured over 90 teams. Inter -School debate competitions have grown rapidly within Dubai over the last few years and Debate Dubai has been instrumental in this growth.
According to Jumeirah College teacher Grant Smith, the organiser of Debate Dubai and manager of the UAE National Schools team, “It has been hugely gratifying to witness the way schools across the UAE have embraced debating over the past few years and the growth of Debate Dubai pays testament to this. Debate is fundamentally about developing critical, analytical and conceptual thinking skills; skills that are absolutely essential in a 21st century education. At Jumeirah College, we are delighted to host a competition that asks so many students to use these important skills.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Dec 9, 2012
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