From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The President of Pearlville School, Avu, Owerri, Dr. (Mrs) Pearl Onukwugha has advised the Imo State government to re-introduce school debates as a strategic measure in uplifting the state’s educational standard.
Onukwugha made the call at the school auditorium last Saturday during the grand finale of senior secondary schools debate among private schools in the state, which was sponsored by her.
She said: “I’m passionately advising the state government through the Ministry to re-introduce debate in the state’s educational system because the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
“It offers the students an ample opportunity to interact, compete and network, which independently brings out the best in them.”
The education administrator expressed concern that debating which used to be an integral part of secondary schools curriculum is now being relegated to the background.
She maintains that debates encourage public speaking, lifelong learning, networking and research while appealing to philanthropic individuals, corporate bodies and the state government for their support and encouragement towards sustenance of the yearly programme which costs fortune in terms of money, human and material resources.
Earlier, Mrs. Vivian Onwuama, a Director of Education with Imo State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), Owerri, commended the school for its immense contributions to educational development of the state.
Owuama recalled that last year, the state came second in the National Schools Debate competition and regretted the state’s non participation in this year’s event.
Adding his voice, Arch. Dr. Victor Onukwugha, the chairman of the school that bagged the 2019 National Award as the Best Private School in Nigeria, while commending the school management for their initiatives, said that the essence of the programme is to enhance improvement in educational standards.
Onukwugha o applauded the participants for performing creditably well and reiterated the need for the state government to revive schools debating societies as a timely measure of improving educational development initiatives.
Golden Ogechukwu of St. Silas Secondary School, Isiala Mbano emerged as the winner of the debate competition and was given N100,000 and an iPad.
Chelsea Nzeakor of Federal Government Girls College, Owerri clinched the second position and went home with N50,000 and iPad while the third position was bagged by Uel Nsofor of Deeper Life High School, Avu and she was rewarded with N25,000.
