Morobe wins IBS debate competition

 By TONNY GORIO

TEAM Morobe has won the National Schools Debate Championship, hosted by the Institute of Business Studies at the National Museum in Port Moresby. 

IBS and its partners, NBC, Kundu 2 and Air Niugini hosted the debate competition in 2013 through the support of major sponsors NCDC, Ipatas Foundation, National Gaming Control Board and Electoral Commission. 

Supporting sponsors were NASFUND, Western Highlands Province Division of Education, Coral Sea Hotels, Paradise Foods Ltd and Digicel.

The debates encompassed the government’s focus on Vision 2050 with the theme “Developing Young Leaders of our Nation”. 

Morobe was represented by Coronation College. 

The debate featured nine champion schools from respective provinces – Port Moresby International School (NCD), Coronation College (Morobe), Notre Dame Secondary School (Western Highlands), Four Square Secondary School (Enga), George Brown High School (East New Britain), Mt Diamond Secondary School (Central), Cameron Secondary School (Milne Bay), Don Bosco Araimiri (Gulf) and Goroka Secondary School (Eastern Highlands). 

The National Schools Debate Competition was initiated in 2009 by IBS for NCD secondary schools only. In 2010, the competition extended to Central and Morobe. 

Since Morobe starting taking part debate competition in 2010, this is the first time a team from Morobe has won the title. 

In 2012, Coronation College having been runner-up in the National Challenge once, gave all their best and reached the semi-finals of the National Debate Championship.

This time, represented by four Grade 12 students in Heidi Baloiloi, Vali Rupa Jonah, Boganjayquel Bogan and Jocelyn Narokai, reached the final for the second time.