The Global Perspectives Debates 1/2018

     “ I disagree with every word you say, but I shall defend to my death your right to say it.” - Voltaire  

More than 200 debate enthusiasts from Perak and Penang schools were gathered at Tenby Schools Ipoh on 16-17^th March 2018 for the bi-annual fiesta of British-style parliamentary debates. This time there were 28 school teams from the following schools:

1 Tenby Schools Penang – 3 teams

2 Tenby Schools Ipoh – 6 teams

3  SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh – 4 teams

4  Poi Lam Private High School – 3 teams

4  Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman,Ipoh – 3 teams

5 SMK Ave Maria Convent – 3 teams

6  SMK St Michael,Ipoh – 2 teams

6 SMK Main Convent HIJ – 2 teams

7  SMK St Bernadette’s Convent – 1 team

8   SMK Buntong – 1 team  

“ This March’s debate fest represents the biggest gathering of debaters ever held in Perak’s history,” commented Mrs Hulda Rajamah, debate advisor to the Ave Maria Convent.

Another interesting tribute came from Miss Evelyn Lim, debate advisor to SMK Buntong,Ipoh:

   “The Tenby debates have become the crucible where many of Ipoh’s debaters experience their baptism of fire.”

Many Ipoh schools send their younger neophytes to these debates in addition to sending  their seasoned campaigners.

 Karran Kumar of SMK St Michael, who was named joint Best Speaker in the Final Debate has this to say:

“I have participated in the Tenby debate series over the past two years. I find that these debates are not only intellectually  challenging. They are also a wonderful social occasion where Ipoh’s debaters can get together in a spirit of friendship and goodwill.”

K. Shannan of SMK (Methodist-ACS)  who shared the Best Speaker Award with Karran Kumar concurs: “ The GP Debates are an occasion I really look forward to because the topics are of current international relevance and the ethos of the debates are a wonderful expression of the true parliamentary spirit.”  

 In his formal thank-you speech at the Closing Ceremony, Tenby Sixth Form Union  President,Kaio Mauricio Flock , thanked Ms Jane Kuok (Campus Principal), Mr Richard Davidson (Head of International Secondary) and Mr Jack Wong (Head of Sekolah Tenby) for giving the Sixth Form the opportunity to organize the event.

  “The GP Debates are sponsored by Tenby Schools Ipoh and their event management is entrusted to the Sixth Form. It is organized by students and for students. Except in the Grand Final, the adjudication is done entirely by a panel of Student Adjudicators formed by the participating schools.”

“This tradition has helped foster a true spirit of fair play, independence and non- partisanship in our debates,” comments Ms B.Manglespary, Tenby Debate Advisor, who together with Mr Louis Rozario (Head of Tenby Sixth Form) were the key advisors to the event management team. 

 Ms Manglespary adds: “It was also wonderful to see our alumni of past Tenby debaters return to the alma mater to sustain the debating tradition by serving as Adjudicators. “

GPD 1/2018 saw the re-emergence of SMK Methodist (ACS) as champions with second spot going to Tenby Schools Penang. In third place was SMK St Michael and in fourth place was another team from SMK Methodist (ACS) .

We all look forward to Global Perspectives 2/2018 which is scheduled for September 2018.