The semi-final round of the Ministry of Education’s annual Inter-Secondary School Debates concluded after a face-off between three winners and the losing team with the most points from the preliminary round.

The first debate saw the proposition team of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary (BFEC) debating the opposing team from St. Georges Secondary School on the moot, “The use of artificial intelligence dilutes the learning experience in the Virgin Islands”.

The second debate saw the proposing team from Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) debating against the opposition team of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies (VISTS) on the moot “The Virgin Islands education system should separate Junior High School from Senior High School”.

Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education Youth Affairs and Sports Mrs. Orlandette Crabbe congratulated the students, teachers, and parents who worked behind the scenes to produce the competitive debates.

Mrs. Crabbe said, “I completely enjoyed listening to our young people debate topics that are relevant not just to education but to our community. As an educator, I look at them and those who have been involved over the years, see the development of crucial skills like critical thinking, problem solving, articulation, and the ability to communicate their position very clearly. ”

The Acting Chief Education Officer added, “I believe the objective of the debate series is to do exactly that, to bring our secondary schools together to have a competition that is academic based, that drives research, that helps our students to understand the importance of being informed, and knowing how to develop an opinion based on the information that they have gathered.”

Deputy Chief Education Officer Mrs. Heida Selwood stated that the 2024 Inter-Secondary School Debates got off to a great start and that the ministry was proud of the work that went into preparing the students with the research for the moots.

Mrs. Selwood said, “This year, the competition was of a very high standard, we continue to say that we are improving every year and we are pleased with the performances by the debaters this year. Congratulations to all the students, coaches and schools for a job well done.”

Mrs. Selwood added that the ministry continues to look at topics that are topical in the community, region, and the world to bring awareness to what is happening in the community.

“I am happy to know that the students were able to talk about the health and educational issues in the Virgin Islands. I encourage the community to continue to support our students as they debate and become very proficient communicators,” the Deputy Chief Education Officer stated.

The full video of the semi-final round of the Inter-Secondary School Debates can be viewed on the Government’s Facebook page at BVIGovernment.

The final round of the debates will take place on Wednesday, March 13 and will see the St. Georges Secondary School versus the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) on the moot “All students exiting secondary school should attain a technical qualification”.