Second National Schools Debate |28 June 2017

Sals, Anse Boileau secondary winners

The School of Advanced Level Studies and Anse Boileau Secondary School are the winners of the National Schools Debate 2017 for educational institutions.

The theme chosen for this final of the second National Schools Debate ‒ ‘The State should ensure special protection against social and economic exploitation and physical and moral dangers to which children and young person are exposed’ ‒ was taken from article 31c on page 35 of the Constitution.

The School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) finished with 500 points to win the professional centre category and Anse Boileau Secondary School amassed 535 points to capture the secondary schools division prize.

Runner-up to Sals was the School of Business Studies Academy (SBSA) comprising Elson Thangalam, Jill Julien and Arrisa Jolicoeur with 470 points, while last year’s winner Beau Vallon Secondary School made up of Lucy Pierre, Maryssa Samedi and Kian Houreau finished second behind Anse Boileau with 520 points.

The finals of the debate were held on Monday at the Seychelles Institute for Teacher Education (Site) conference room and were part of activities organised to commemorate Constitution Day on June 18. It was organised by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development in collaboration with the National Celebrations Committee and Sids Youth AIMS HUB (SYAH).

The happy Sals team comprising Sonam Tsultrim, Serah Bonte and Neha Magnesia received their prizes from Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, while the overjoyed members of the Anse Boileau Secondary School ‒ Priya Didon, Jessica Sinon and Alvania Lawen ‒ collected theirs from the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Joël Morgan. This was in the presence of principal secretaries, members of the National Assembly, other high education officials, teachers and students.

During the event, copies of the simplified version of the Constitution were donated to educational institutions by the Judiciary and honorable Bernard Georges presented a symbolic copy to the principal secretary for education, Odile Decommarmond. 

Members of the Anse Boileau Secondary School who spoke in favour of article 31c and convinced the six-member jury, said they were very happy as their hard work had paid off. They also thanked everyone who helped them with their research, especially their English teacher.

Alvania Lawen of Anse Boileau Secondary School came out as best orator.

Stressing that it is the duty of the state to intervene in the protection of children and young people as it is the state only that has the power to make laws for their protection, the Sals team said they were very happy to retain the title. They noted that victory only came after they had made a lot of sacrifices, done a lot of research and gauged public opinion with the help of their teachers.

All four teams could question each other about their motives.

Sals’ Sarah Bonte was the best orator for the final.

The elimination rounds of the competition started on May 23 and the teams discussed either in favour or against article 38b of the Constitution ‒ ‘It is the duty of the State to ensure the sustainable socio-economic development of Seychelles, by a judicious use and management of its resources’.

Beau Vallon, Anse Boileau, Plaisance and Mont Fleuri made it to the semifinals in the secondary schools category, while the semifinalists of the professional centres division were NIHSS, Sals, SBSA and Site.

The theme chosen for the semifinal stage was ‘The State should take steps to provide free health care for all its citizens’ taken from article 29a of the Constitution.

The winners of the two categories received a trophy, cash prizes, pen drives, certificates and a day trip to Labriz Silhouette & Spa sponsored by the resort.

The runners-up got trophies, cash prizes, pen drives, certificates and a prize sponsored by SMAV Adventures of Ephelia Resort.

All those who took part in the activity were presented with certificates of participation. Other prizes went to Daryl Adolphe from Plaisance secondary school and Kelly Mathiot from SBSA (best orators in the elimination round), and Chelsie Albest from Mont Fleuri secondary school and Sonam Tsultrim from Sals (best orators in the semifinals).

There was also a poem recital, songs and dance performances during the event.