English debate attracted only 7 out of 27 Sibu schools — Education assistant officer

0

SIBU: The number of schools entering the yearly inter-school debate competition has been plummeting, noted divisional Education assistant officer Lim Chun Len.

Speaking at the closing of Piala Tan Sri Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad English Debate competition at SMK Chung Hua yesterday, Lim said it has become harder to get schools to participate in debates.

“The competition has been going for many years, but every year we find it harder to get schools to participate.

“We have barely seven schools in this year’s competition,” he lamented, adding that there were 27 secondary schools in Sibu.

Lim said the Education Department expects schools here to provide a well-rounded education for the children.

“We want more self-directed learning and learning in rich social context, for instance in an environment created in the debate competition,” he pointed out.

On the debate, he said it provided a good training ground for young people to learn argumentation, communication, and self-presentation skills.

“It is precisely these skills that are most lacking in our students,” he noted.

Debate, he said, was not about shouting but about getting others to agree with one’s argument.

“Perhaps, it’s a fear of making mistakes that bereft students of the courage to enter for the debate competition,” he said.

The competition yesterday saw SMK Methodist emerging the champion with SMK Sungai Merah in second place.

SMK Tung Hua and SMK St Elizabeth were joint-third.

Rayden Sia from SMK Methodist was adjudged the best speaker.

SMK Methodist will represent Sibu at the state-level competition in Padawan from May 8-10.