Riviera wins debating competition

KIGALI - Riviera High School, yesterday, won Kigali city schools debating competition held at King David Academy.The school beat FAWE Girls’ school to the coveted title in a competition organised by Never Again Rwanda (NAR) a youth-focused human rights and peace-building organization. We did not expect a lot as a team but this is a dream come true and we have made it,” said a Riviera High School student, Daphine Natasha. 8 schools from Kigali gathered at King David Academy to debate three topics, free university education, population control and the media. The final round which was held before a large audience and a four-judge panel, had Riviera and FAWE debate the theme, “media censorship”.Riviera argued in favour of the motion and FAWE against. Riviera took a reasonable line and clarified issues and in a debate consistency with good points supporting your argument is what makes you win, said the chief judge, Friday James.Officiating at the event, Patrice Mulama, the Executive Secretary of the Media High Council, hailed the organisers of the competition for such an educative initiative. “This final motion is within my daily responsibilities and I thank the schools that participated in such interactive debates which build society,” he added.Mulama told the students that the media law in Rwanda prohibits censorship of the press and called upon them to join the media industry in future. He promised to partner with Never Again Rwanda to organise more debating competitions.Dr Joseph Nkurunziza, NAR’s Executive Director, stressed that schools that debated were chosen through a rigorous process. “We have been organising school debating competitions since 2008 and our aim is to enable students acquire public speaking skills,” he said.Nkurunziza added that they are planning to hold another debating competition among the Eastern Province schools soon and if they get enough resources and support they will make it nationwide. The schools that participated included Groupe Scolaire ADB Nyarutarama, C.G.F.K, College de L’Espoir de Gasogi, Ecole Technique Muhazi 11, FAWE Girls School, King David Academy, Lycee de Kigali and Riviera High School.All students who participated were awarded with certificates and scholastic materials. Ends