A group of sixty four high school learners from all over Eastern Cape gathered in the Bhisho Legislature on 20 August 2011 to debate for the top spot to represent the province at the National Model United Nations South Africa (MUNSA) finals to be held in Cape Town in October 2011.
The programme is based on the principles and format of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly debate Model UN and according to provincial education coordinator and English subject specialist Norman Fumba, it plays a significant role in the learners' lives.
“These debates provide an opportunity for learners from every corner of the province, regardless of their background to engage each other and improve their public speaking skills, broaden their understanding on global issues as well as their impact on our own country,” he said.
Representing 32 of the world's countries, the delegates took turns on the hot seat to defend, support or completely oppose the topic of “Internet Freedom and the Role of the United Nations” in accordance to their chosen country’s security, political and economic policies.
With research, consistency, diplomacy, timing and presentation the most crucial contributing factors to the country representatives’ readiness and command of the topic, adjudicators had a tough call in their decision to pick out the winners.
The winners for this year’s provincial MUNSA were in their descending order, India (represented by Byletts and Stirling High Schools) in third position, followed by China (represented by John Bisseker and Hudson Park High Schools) in second position and taking the top spot was Poland (represented by Hector Peterson and Kingsridge High Schools).
Honouring the event was provincial education MEC Mandla Makupula who commended the teachers, parents and learners for their dedication to such an event.
“Platforms like these do strengthen the ability (of learners) to read and write and simultaneously encourages confidence. It is with great belief that a time in the future will come for those exposed (in the debate) to represent the country by raising and confronting the challenges we are facing (on bigger and formal platforms). All this would not be possible without the support and cooperation between teachers, parents and learners,” he said.
The winning team will be heading to Cape Town in two months’ time to compete against other provinces. A group of 12 delegates selected at the national finals can look forward to going on an international platform to represent team-South Africa in a debate that will be attended by delegates from all over world in March next year.
MUNSA cooperates and collaborates with senior provincial education department officials who serve as coordinators and liaise with the schools as well as education department districts to garner for participation and nomination of qualifying pupils.
Further on the subject of debate:
Putting the Eastern Cape Province in the top three was Ayanda Twani, the 2011 Young Communicator Award Provincial winner who managed to retain third position in the YCA National Finals held in Johannesburg on 19 August 2011. She walked away with R30 000 worth of bursary and R5 000 for her school, Victoria Girls High School.
To date, the Eastern Cape province is still the only province that has the highest number of first position winners at National level in this particular competition. For this year’s winners, the prizes were even more lucrative. First position holder, Stephen Buabeng-Baidoo from Gauteng scooped R60 000 study bursary and R10 000 for his school, Voortrekker Hoerskool.
For second place winner, Avuyile Gasela from KwaZulu-Natal province nothing was more gratifying than him getting to the top three.
“I am happy and relieved that I have not only lived up to my parents and friends’ expectations but to my own expectations as well of being in the top three,” he said. With R40 000 bursary and R7 000 for his school, Gasela said he’ll be using the money towards his dream career, law.
“I am planning to study law, and criminal law at it because our country’s justice system is an area of interest to me and I want to work at protecting the rights not only of perpetrators but victims as well,” he added.
Group of high school learners debate for top spot on MUNSA finals
Province
