The winners and other participants in a photo-call after the competition yesterday.
MIRI: Andy Alexander Maiyor of Riam Road Secondary School emerged as champion in this year’s district-level Secondary School Public Speaking Competition.
He beat 17 other participants in the competition, which saw Caleb Liaw Zhi Hong of SMK Chung Hua Miri coming in second and Samra Mohd Ismail of SMK Baru, third.
District education officer Shirini Mastura Mohamed Zulkifli said the competition aimed to unleash students’ talent in public speaking and instil confidence and eloquence when speaking in English.
“We need to cultivate love of the English language so that we are always proud to use it in our daily affairs,” she said in her text-of-speech delivered by SMK Baru parent-teachers association chairperson Zulkifli Mat Nor.
She added there needs to be consistency in popularising and strengthening the use of English in all areas of education, legislation, science and technology, trade, information technology and financial services.
“English is a global language that can bring those who master the language to greater heights, especially in commerce, administration, knowledge and communication.”