Debate contest gets a boost

THE Institute of Business Studies (IBS) schools debate competition to be staged in Enga next week has given a timely shot in the arm with the Enga Children’s Fund backing it with K35,000.
Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, accompanied by representatives from the Enga Children’s Fund, presented the cheque to IBS at the Institute’s Saraga Campus.
Sir Tei Abal Secondary School in Enga won last year’s competition and Ipatas pointed out that it would be great if the school defended its title in this year’s competition.
Ipatas said the Enga provincial government had already established relations with IBS, with the IBS Enga Campus being launched earlier this year.
He said it was great to have students in his province debating on issues in PNG.
“We are supporting this year’s competition through the Enga Children’s Fund.
“We supported the competition last year as well. Having Enga students taking part in the competition will help them to articulate and do research on certain topics.
“We look forward to participating in the competition for a long time,” Ipatas said.
Debate competition coordinator Vani Davies thanked Enga Children’s Fund for its support and said everything was set for Enga schools to compete in the debate.
Ten schools in the area are scheduled to take part.
This week, the competition is being held for schools in Kokopo, East New Britain.
All winning teams from the participating centres around the country will compete in the national competition next month.
The major sponsors for the competition are Ipatas Foundation, PNG Electoral Commission, L & A Group of Companies, Bank South Pacific, National Capital District Commission and Moni Plus, while the partners are National Broadcasting Corporation and Air Niugini.