KUCHING – Schools from Indonesia and the Philippines are among 33 that will compete at the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus inter-school debating championship from 22 to 25 February, 2016.
SMAK Immanuel Bilingual Class from Indonesia and the high school of University of the Immaculate Conception from the Philippines will participate for the first time in the eleventh iteration of the debate tournament.
A team each from the two schools will battle it out with 82 other teams for the championship trophy.
While West Kalimantan schools had taken part in the competition in previous years with SMA Katholik Santu Petrus winning the title in 2012, this will be the first time a school from the Philippines will see action at the tournament.
“We raised the team cap and opened the competition to schools in the region this year, and the response is heartening,” said tournament advisor Christina Yin.
“It is interesting that for the first time in the tournament’s 11-year history not only are there more teams participating overall but there will be more junior teams debating than senior teams. This means interest in English debate is growing among the young.”
The 33 schools competing include eight from Peninsular Malaysia, one from Sabah and schools from throughout Sarawak.
Besides the championship trophy for both the senior and junior categories, the senior champions, runner-up and two semi-finalist teams will receive the Swinburne Sarawak Engagement Awards.
The award recipients will be eligible to enrol on Swinburne Sarawak’s foundation courses with bursaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM4,500 each, in the next three years.
As to the involvement of Swinburne Sarawak’s Debaters’ Club, Yin was impressed by its commitment.
“Our own debaters have really worked hard to make this tournament happen. It’s the university’s summer break, but some of the students have been juggling their part time jobs while others have been managing their time between summer term classes and exams.”
This year the debate will again feature the “Locks for Conservation and Debate”, a highlight of the 10th anniversary of the tournament in 2015. Every student and teacher, volunteer and organising member will “lock” their commitment to debate and conservation by fastening a lock in a permanent display on campus.
As a further commitment to conservation and in line with Swinburne’s sustainable campus, there will be a “Tree of Life: the environment in 2050” sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
This year’s Chief Adjudicator is Swinburne Sarawak lecturer Hugh John Leong, a champion in the Malaysia Royals Intervarsity Debating Championship in 2006 (Junior) and 2008 (Senior) representing Universiti Malaya.
“Debate is a unique platform that sharpens our minds and strengthens our knowledge and oratory skills. I’m happy to see that debate is flourishing here in Sarawak and that Swinburne is playing an integral part in nurturing the young minds of the future,” said Leong who was also the recipient of the Best Malaysian Debater Award by the Malaysian Universities Debating Council in 2010.