The High School National Debating Championship
The High School National Championship will bring together the top teams from each of South Africa’s local high school debating leagues - including those run by other organizations. Local league coordinators will invite the top two teams in each division.
Teams will represent their own school and compete to become the national champions.
Are you a league coordinator? Reach out to Thishin using thishin@ndl.org.za.
25-26 September 2024 @ Bishops Diocesan College
Program Overview
- Welcome & Orientation
We will start the tournament with a short speech from a guest speaker and an "ice breaker" round. We'll use the "ice breaker" to calibrate our adjudication.
- Debates & Feedback
We'll have five competitive debates. Topics will be released at the tournament and teams will have 45 minutes to prepare for each debate. No electronic devices will be allowed during prep or debates.
- The Awards Ceremony
We will recognize the achievements of our debaters with an awards ceremony. We'll award trophies and medals to our top teams and individuals.
Included in the Registration Fee
- 🏠Accommodation
- Hotel accommodation will be arranged for all participants. Students will share rooms with members of their own school and sex. Where this isn’t possible, they’ll share with a student of the same sex and a similar age from another school.
- 🍔Meals
- Breakfast is included in our hotel bookings. Lunch and dinner on competition days will be provided at the school.
- 🗺️Sightseeing
- We want our debaters to truly experience the destination they’re traveling to. We’ll arrange a tour to a landmark in Cape Town. The exact destination is still being determined.
- 🚌Transport Between the Hotel and School
- We'll arrange transport between the official hotel and Bishops Diocesan College each day.
Neighbourgood Newlands
Neighbourgood Newlands is just 6 minutes away from our host school, Bishops Diocesan College. We will transport participants between the hotel and Bishops each day.
- Sharing Rooms for Students
- Students will be allocated to sharing (twin) rooms. Connected rooms may be possible for selected groups.
- Single Rooms for Teachers
- If possible, educators/coaches will recieve their own private rooms.
- Included in each booking
- A packed breakfast each morning and high speed WiFi.
- Check-in/Check-out Times
- Hotel Check-in will start on 21 September at 2:00pm.
Teams will need to check-out by 10:00am on 24 September 2024. - More Info about Neighbourgood Newlands
- Open Hotel Website
Not Included
- ✈️Travel to/from Cape Town
- Schools will need to make their own travel arrangements to Cape Town.
- 🚕Airport/Bus Stop Transfers
- Schools will need to arrange their own pickups if they choose to fly. We recommend using EZ Shuttle.
Pre-released Motion #1: (Senior Division Only)
South Africa should join Kenya's intervention in Haiti
Suggested Readings:
- Kenyan special forces police to arrive in Haiti to help combat gang violence
- An advance group of Kenyan officers, part of a larger UN-backed ‘support mission’ to stabilize Haiti, landed in Port-au-Prince
- ‘The gangs are in charge’: Haiti’s outgunned police fight a desperate rear defence
- With violent insurrectionists in charge of 80% of the capital, Haiti’s police cling to their mission in the face of deadly odds
- Haiti Is Collapsing: Here's Why
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital of 2.8 million people where over 300 gangs battle relentlessly for control of the city... Haiti is on the edge of collapse, grappling with crippling overlapping catastrophes.
- What Kenya’s proposed mission to Haiti says about Nairobi’s foreign policy
- Kenya, under President William Ruto, is reorienting its foreign policy approach to Africa and its diaspora, seeking to be a leader on the continent and across the Global South. Its proposed mission to Haiti emphasizes this keen interest.
Pre-released Motion #2: (All Divisions)
Schools should make community service compulsory
Suggested Readings:
- Find Meaning and Happiness through Volunteering
- George Tavola has worked with volunteers around the world for over 20 years. In his TEDx talk, George reveals how volunteering can give your life meaning and purpose, open up opportunities for social connection and personal growth, as well as boost your levels of health, happiness and fulfilment.
Pre-released Motion #3: (All Divisions)
Students with wealthy parents should not be allowed to win scholarships
Suggested Readings:
