Port Kaituma secondary wins JOF Haynes Memorial Inter-Secondary Schools debating competition

More improvements continue to be made in the education system, as Government remains steadfast in its commitment to provide quality education and improve the lives of Guyanese.
            Towards this objective, the Ministry of Education on Tuesday hosted the JOF Haynes Memorial Inter-Secondary Schools debating competition at the Diamond Secondary School auditorium, as part of activities to commemorate Education Month.
            The debating competition took place among students of Diamond Secondary, Region Four, and Port Kaituma Secondary, Region One.


At the head table are Head of the University of Guyana’s Law Department, Professor Calvin Eversley; District Education Officer- Secondary, Lynette Brown and Deputy Chief Education Officer – Development, Bibi Ally; at the Ministry of Education’s Inter-Secondary Schools debating competition.

            Delivering the opening remarks, Distance Chief Executive Officer (development), Bibi Ally said that the annual debating competition is used to celebrate the oratorical expertise of the late JOF Haynes, who was identified as the most brilliant and eminent lawyer of his generation.
            “Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes was born on July 18, 1912 in New Amsterdam. At the age of 20, he obtained a First-Class Teachers’ Certificate and also passed the London Matriculation Examination,” she said.
            Professor Haynes was also appointed a teacher at the Scot School in New Amsterdam and later the Headmaster of Mara Primary School, Berbice River. In 1942, he completed part two of the Bar Examination and also obtained second-class honours and placed sixth in the world.
            Diamond Secondary, the proposition and Port Kaituma Secondary the opposition debated under the moot: Homework is essential for students’ success.
            Some of the points garnered from the argument of members of the proposition stated that;- homework provides the hub in developing life skills, stimulates creativity, and improve students achievements.
            Members of the opposition in their argument said that while homework is not essential there is no denial of its importance. They also listed successful entrepreneurs and politicians and health pioneers such as Florence Nightingale.
At the end of the contest Port Kaituma Secondary came out as the winner with an average point of 252, compared to 230 from the Diamond Secondary.


Students from the Port Kaituma Secondary School, Region One; who won the debating competition against Diamond Secondary School.  

Shetal Ragnauth of Diamond Secondary copped best debater while Kelly Etwaroo of Port Kaituma Scondary was adjudged best speaker during the presentation.
Chief Judge Lurine Meertins while announcing the results said that she was pleased with the debate since it showed a high level of research conducted.
            Meanwhile, in delivering the feature address, Head of the Law Department, University of Guyana, Professor Calvin Eversley, deemed the debate as an art of advocacy, noting that he was impressed at what he witnessed.
             He also told the participants that if they do what they did in a mutually respectful manner, they would make Guyana proud.
             This year’s winner adds to the Ministry’s past debating champions. These include;- In 2007, Bishops’ High, 2008 Aurora Secondary, Region Two and Anna Regina Secondary, Region Two in 2009.
The activity was also held in keeping with the Education Month theme “Child-Friendly Homes-Child-Friendly Classroom-Quality Education”.