“Power to the voice is Power to the People”
An online International Inter-School Debate Competition was organised by the English department of the Assam Valley school on 26th March 2024. The Debate Competition on the topic “This House believes that the West interferes rather than aids” witnessed the participation of students from three international schools and the host school from India.
The debate competition observed a diverse exchange of opinions as well as language and culture across the globe among anglophone and non-anglophone countries. The event was conducted in a Zoom meeting. The participants in the debate competition were well-dressed, confident, and equipped with persuasive arguments and counter-arguments, representing their respective schools. They came from diverse backgrounds and nationalities and possessed a range of skills, including research, public speaking, and critical thinking.
The objective was to provide a global platform for inspiring the students. It was modeled on a holistic discussion based on a pertinent topic and helped student participants put on their thinking caps on contemporary issues faced by different generations. Another purpose was to spread awareness about the influence of Western countries globally.
Each school was represented by two participants and an interjector, who had to present their arguments in front of a panel of judges. The judges were looking for a well-constructed argument, supported by relevant evidence, and delivered with conviction. Participants were judged on the following criteria: Matter, Manner and Method.
The event was judged by a distinguished panelist of educators including Mr. Benjamin Kwiecien, from Modern International School, Tajikistan, Mr. Abdul Waris Qasim from Contofield International School, Tajikistan, and Ma’am Dayita B. Datta from the Assam Valley School. The winner was decided by the jury with a unanimous decision.
Norzin Lhamu from the Assam Valley School, was adjudged as the best speaker with 136 points whereas Pranshi Sachdeva from Springdale International School, Bangladesh, was adjudged as the most promising speaker. Nazrieva Amal from Modern International School, Tajikistan, along with Sharifova Imrana of Contofield International School were awarded the title of “The Young Turk Speaker”. Anushka Jitani was unanimously declared to be “The best Interjector” for the competition.
The ceremony concluded on a great note with amazing comments and reviews from all judges. At the end of the event Norzin Lahmu of the Assam Valley School presented the vote of thanks with a note of gratitude to all the school heads, visionaries, and participants for bringing this debate competition live to the aspiration of its true essence. In the words of Jonathan Swift, ‘Argument is the worst sort of conversation.’. The debate was a kaleidoscope of opinions, thoughts, and perspectives that enhanced the knowledge and understanding of the Western influence among the participants. The event showcased the intellectual prowess and eloquence of the young minds of the current generation. The competition was a testament to the importance of critical thinking and effective communication skills. Such competitions are a testament to the importance of extracurricular activities in a student’s overall growth and development with critical thinking and effective communication skills. We look forward to more such events in the future. Frank Sonnenberg has quoted- “You don’t win a debate by suppressing discussion; you win it with a better argument.”
