Gashora Girls Academy emerged the best debating school in the 2014 National Young Entrepreneur’s Debating Championships after beating off stiff competition from Greenhills Academy, the outgoing champions. 

The competition started in August and ended during the weekend with schools that emerged winners at provincial level battling it out for the top spots.

Kagarama SS took the third position in the inter-school debating competitions dubbed, "National Young Entrepreneurs’ Debating Championships,” organised by Rwanda Inspiration Back Up Ltd.

Out of 49 schools that participated in the competitions, only 16 schools made it to the national level pre-selection process held on Saturday which saw Gashora Girls Academy and Greenhills Academy make it to the finals.

"This year’s competition was more stiff than the previous two editions. We had many new entrants and students debated Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and entrepreneurship with emphasis on "Savings as key to entrepreneurship,” said the chief judge in the competition, Innocent Ninsiima.

Belise Bwiza, one of the debaters from Gashora Girls Academy, attributed their victory to commitment and hardwork, saying their teachers had equipped them with diverse knowledge on the topic.

The Director General of Workforce Development Authority, Jerome Gasana, said debate helps to educate students about different national initiatives and enhances their knowledge about different sectors.

Meanwhile, Vanessa Rukundo, from Groupe Scolaire Mater Dei Nyanza, and Patrick Muhizi, from Kagamara SS, emerged top female and male speakers respectively.

The annual debating competition is organised to help the youth find solutions to problems that affect them. The finale saw the winners walk away with prizes that included laptops, medals and a trophy.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw