The annual Inter-Secondary School Debates begin on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Photo: GIS

Scenes from a previous Inter-Secondary Schools Debate. Photo: GIS

The Elmore Stoutt High School are the 2024 champion of the Inter-Secondary Schools Debate. Photo: Team of Reporters

The seven schools participating in this year’s debate are Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary, Cedar International School, Ciboney Centre for Excellence, Claudia Creque Educational Centre Secondary, Elmore Stoutt High School, St George’s Secondary and Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies.

Debate aims to improve public speaking skills- Deputy CEO

According to a press release from the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, today, Thursday, January 30, 2025, the debates aim to encourage students to improve their public speaking skills and communicate various forms of arguments effectively in a variety of contexts.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mrs Heida Joyles-Selwood said, “We have observed the improvements made by the respective schools each year. Last year, we witnessed fierce debates, with winners determined by small point differences. This year, we anticipate the same high level of competition. I encourage the public to continue supporting the debates as we sharpen the minds of our youth, preparing them to navigate the world in the future.”

Debate schedule

Debate 1

• Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
• Moot:  Students with special educational needs should be required to take the same standardized tests as their peers.
• Proposition: Claudia Creque Educational Centre
• Opposition: Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies

Debate 2

• Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
• Moot: Agricultural self-sufficiency is an unrealistic expectation for the Virgin Islands.
• Proposition: Cedar International School
• Opposition: St. Georges Secondary School

Debate 3

• Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 9:30 AM
• Moot: The current measures taken in the Virgin Islands are sufficient to combat the effects of climate change.
• Proposition: Ciboney Centre for Excellence
• Opposition: Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary

The winning teams from each preliminary debate, along with current champions, Elmore Stoutt High School will advance to the semi-final round.

The finals will be held on March 12, 2025.

The Impromptu Speech Competition will also be held at the finals of the debate competition.