Victory was not up for debate

Hage G. Geingob High School’s recent triumph at the Round Robin Debate Tournament at Eldorado Secondary School on 5 to 6 April was nothing short of historic. Teams from various schools competed against each other in the tournament to see who has the better arguments, or at the very least who is better at convincing the judges that they have the better arguments.

Two teams advanced to the finals and competed against each other. The grade nine team from Hage G. Geingob High School - made up of Johannes Johannes, Johanna Shikongo and Kristofina Sheya - was crowned victorious. Since the tournament is in round robin format, they could not rely on the luck of the draw, and had to earn every victory through hard work and effort.

Meanwhile, the award for best speaker was highly contested as the level of public speaking impressed the judge. In the end, the award was shared between two speakers from the very team that won: Johannes and Shikongo who both illustrated their superb debate abilities.

This success is testament to the dedication and hard work of the learners, and the coaches and parents who supported them. Sheya, who was the sixth best speaker, describes it as “a very empowering win”, seeing that they have been the underdogs for a while.

The tournament not only showcased the school’s debating prowess, but also provided invaluable lessons in critical thinking, effective communication and teamwork, which are important skills in the modern world.

As the school community celebrates this remarkable achievement, it’s clear that Hage G. Geingob High School continues to be a beacon of excellence in both academics and extracurricular activities. The debate team also has no intention of stopping here – they will be heard from again, or so they argue.