Schools invited to join Curtin Inter-School English Debate and Oratory Competition

Miri – 19 March 2015 – The Curtin Young Associates (CYA) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) is organising its second annual Inter-School Debate and Oratory Competition following a very successful inaugural competition last year. It will be on 11 and 12 April 2015 at the Curtin Sarawak campus.

Secondary schools in Sarawak and Sabah are encouraged to send debate teams and oratory speakers to the competition. Last year, 11 debate teams and 14 speakers from secondary schools in Miri, Kuching, Sibu, and Betong in Sarawak took part.

The competition is open to students aged between 15 and 18 and each school may send a maximum of three teams for the debate competition and three speakers for the oratory competition. Both competitions will run concurrently.

The winning team in the debate competition will walk away with a RM3,000 cash prize and trophies for the school as well as for each team member. Meanwhile, the oratory competition winner will take home a RM2,500 cash prize and trophy, in addition to a trophy for his or her school.

There will also be prizes for the Final Best Speaker and Overall Best Speaker in the debate competition, and first and second runner-ups in the oratory competition.

Participating schools are required to pay nominal commitment fees of RM100 and RM50 for the debate and oratory competitions respectively. The fees are refundable and the refunds can be collected during the event registration.

According to CYA Coordinator Norsari John, the competition encourages secondary school students to take a keen interest in debating and public speaking, and serves as a platform for participating students to network and exchange ideas. It also helps them build self-confidence and sharpen their critical and creative thinking.

Last year’s competition saw a good representation of schools in Sarawak, namely Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, SMK Pujut, SMK Baru, SMK Lutong, SMK Luar Bandar, SMK Methodist Sibu, SMK Batu Lintang, Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Betong.

Team A of SMK Batu Lintang emerged champion in the debate competition. Joshua Chew of Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah won the Final Best Speaker prize and Lim Tai Jie of SMK Batu Lintang the Overall Best Speaker prize.

In the oratory competition, Noratikah Abdul Rahman of Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah grabbed the first prize, followed by Amanda Dina anak Michael Nangkai of SMK Lutong and Siti Nurfatihah Aidel of Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah winning the first and second runner-up prizes.

It is hoped that more schools will participate this year, including schools in Sabah, to make for a more exciting and competitive event.

The CYA is a youth programme set up with the primary purpose of supporting secondary students aspiring to further their tertiary education. The benefits of CYA membership include online academic support and the opportunity to attend pre-exam workshops and motivational camps, among others. More information on CYA can be found at www.curtin.edu.my/cya/.

For more information on the Inter-School Debate and Oratory Competition, contact Norsari John 085-443 929 or email norsari.j@curtin.edu.my. The deadline for registration is 27 March 2015.

Winners and participants of last year’s Inter-School English Debate and Oratory Competition.