Snowdan advises students to take up debating
KUCHING: Students should take up debating as it encourages critical thinking to make reasoned and well-thought-out arguments besides questioning evidence behind a particular stance or conclusion.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan said this at the prize-giving of SEGi Interschool Debate Championship at the college yesterday.
Meanwhile, SEGi College Sarawak principal Doreen D’orville said debating also makes students good communicators who are effective at influencing others, represent themselves and make an impact.
“The skills one learns through debating are crucial for modern life. Political events continue to remind us of the importance of persuasive arguments and good oratory that appeal not only to our rational but emotional side too,” she said.
She went on to say debating involves mastering skills of obvious intrinsic value: the confidence to speak in public and make sense; the construction of a logical argument; the ability to read an audience’s reactions and perhaps most importantly, the willingness to hear others’ arguments and respond.
A total of 17 teams with two members each from Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia participated in the twoday debate organised by SEGi
College and Intrtxt Solutions.
The team from SMK Aminuddin Baki was the champion, winning a 50 per cent scholarship for any diploma or A-level courses offered by the college.
All participants received a certificate of participation from Intrtxt Solutions.
Also present was Solutions founder Kamahlendra.
Intrtxt Albert