Georgetown: Eight schools will participate this year in the Guyana National Library’s annual Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition.
Acting Deputy Chief Librarian Ms. Nadine Moore made this recent disclosure when she told the Guyana Chronicle, during an interview at the Library, that the contest will take place on April 29, and that there will also be a ‘Champion of Champions’ rivalry amongst the secondary schools.
The eight participants in the debating competition are Brickdam Secondary, Christ Church Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, Mackenzie High, Zeeburg Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, St. Rose’s High and West Demerara Secondary schools.
Ms Moore said the contests, which will feature several interesting topics, are to be aired, and rebroadcast, on Channel 80.
Topics include violence in society, advanced technology and its effects on families, gangs in schools, the justice system, the social media, illiteracy, recycling, and garbage disposal.
This initiative, which started in 2009 as one of the library’s extension activities, will be staged at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). Sponsors include Sterling Products Limited, Ansa McAl and Caribbean Container Inc.
The members of the winning team will receive $20,000 each, a trophy and a book; and those in the runner-up group will each get a trophy, $10,000 and a book.
Supervisor of the Juvenile Department, Ms. Francica Burgess, told this publication that the Easter activity registration at the library will begin on March 10. On March 22, children will begin decorating their Easter hats and baskets.
Having had their first parade last year, she said, the library is hoping to have it this year on April 12.
Burgess said the Champion Reader’s Competition will be on in July/August, and is being sponsored by Digicel. Registration begins on May 12 and closes on June 14.
The prisons will also be included in this competition, and their registration begins sometime next month. They would have three months to read their books. Their tournament will be in July, and then there will be an overall awards ceremony in August.
Officers of the Library usually go to four prisons and do the registration, after which the participants are given their books to read. The tournament follows inside the prisons.
The prisoners who gained up to the fourth place will come out for the awards ceremony and receive cash, a book and a trophy as prizes.
Anyone from the prison who desires to join the competition can do so, even a murder accused. Of course, the latter will come out with security.
At the end of the year, the Library will close off with a Christmas party.
Also speaking with the Guyana Chronicle was Senior Librarian Assistant Shellyann Fraser, who disclosed that a quiz will be staged as well, with the main sponsor being Gafoors.
Some of the objectives of this competition are to develop reading and research skills, and to enhance study skills. There will be a primary and secondary quiz, the primary being for Grade Six children, and the secondary for the Fourth Form students.
The primary schools participating this year are J.E. Burnham; St. Ambrose; Greenwich Park; Grove; Supply; Rosignol; New Market, and Mackenzie.
The secondary schools are St. Joseph’s High; Vergenoegen High; Friendship Secondary; Belladrum Secondary; Tutorial Academy Secondary; Berbice Educational Institute; Mackenzie High, and Harmony Secondary.
The competition will begin on April 28 and end on May 19.
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