National co-ordinator of the CBZ Schools Debate Championship, Isheanesu Sibanda has urged parents and school heads to encourage children’s participation and embrace debate programmes to gain a deeper understanding of global issues.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIIO
Sibanda told NewsDay Life & Style ahead of the CBZ Schools Debate Championship national finals in which top primary schools from the country’s 10 provinces will battle for honours at the Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo on October 13.
The debate championship is a national programme for primary schools organised by Institute of African Knowledge in partnership with National Association of Primary Heads.
“The schools debates must be embraced from the grassroots level as they help to mould future leaders while bringing vibrancy to the education sector by developing critical thinking, reading and research as well as active listening among the debaters, providing them with experiences that will raise cognitive and presentation skills,” he said.
Sibanda said Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima will be guest of honour at the event and will hand over the prizes to the winners.
“All is set for the CBZ Schools Debate Championship national finals set for Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo this Saturday with a $50 000 sponsorship package, one of the biggest prize monies in schools co-curricular activities is up for grabs courtesy of the chief sponsors, financial services group CBZ Holdings,” he said.
“More than 1 000 schools drawn from the country’s 10 provinces have registered to participate at the debate which is going to be an annual event for primary schools across the country.”
