Jaldhaka wins BRAC secondary school debate 2024-25, damurhuda runner-up
The BRAC Secondary School Debate Festival 2024-2025 concluded with a compelling display of arguments and rebuttals as students demonstrated their analytical acumen.
BRAC Secondary School, Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, emerged as the champion, while BRAC Secondary School, Damurhuda, Chuadanga, secured the runner-up position.
In celebration of International Women's Day, the festival saw enthusiastic participation from BRAC Secondary School students nationwide. The grand finale occurred on Monday, 10 March, at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
The motion for the final debate was "Economic independence is more crucial than changing societal perspectives for women's empowerment". Participants presented their arguments using data analysis, real-life examples, and logical reasoning to defend their stance, captivating the guests, judges, and audience.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Moutushi Kabir, Senior Director of People, Culture, and Communications at BRAC, and Safi Rahman Khan, Director of Education, Skills Development, and Migration at BRAC, graced the event. Renowned debater and media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar moderated the debate, and the Bangladesh Debate Federation members served on the judging panel.
Moutushi Kabir encouraged students to extend their voices beyond debate, urging them to speak out against violence towards children and women and any violations of human rights at every stage of life.
Safi Rahman Khan highlighted the importance of engaging in creative activities like debate alongside academic learning. He called on students, parents, and teachers to actively support such initiatives.
Dr Abdun Nur Tushar encouraged participating students to broaden their thinking, stating, "Debate should not be limited to merely presenting information; rather, students must articulate their thoughts through reasoning and argumentation."
The event concluded with awards and certificates to the champion, runner-up teams, and the best speaker.
Launched in commemoration of International Women's Day, the BRAC Secondary School Debate Festival is vital in raising awareness about women's rights, empowerment, and equality. This year, 613 students from 13 BRAC Secondary Schools across Bangladesh participated in the competition, with 58% being female students.
The competition was structured in three phases to enhance students' reasoning, analytical thinking, and public speaking skills. It began with an intra-school round for grades 6 to 9 students, followed by inter-school and district-level semi-finals, culminating in the national grand finale.
BRAC's Education Programme (BEP) initiated this festival to inspire students to think critically and articulate their ideas confidently. Looking ahead, BRAC plans to expand this initiative to provide more students nationwide with the opportunity to develop their analytical and debating skills, empowering them to showcase their intellectual potential and leadership abilities on a broader platform.
