The final tussle for the coveted trophy and a million francs between Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA) and University of East Africa at Lemigo Hotel last Friday left me enthralled, to say the least. Any attendee of this function would agree that debates are definitely the way to go.

The competition which enlisted forty-six universities from the five provinces of Rwanda finally climaxed with AUCA taking home the win. With both teams having meticulously researched, the debate could not have been more captivating. If only these competitions were to run right from primary, a lot would be achieved.

The advantages of debate cannot be overemphasized. The process offers profound and lasting benefits for individuals, for societies and for the global community as a whole. With its emphasis on critical thinking, effective communication, independent research and teamwork, debate teaches skills that serve individuals well in school, in the workplace, in political life and in fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens of democratic societies. Once students have learned how to debate, they are better able to critically examine the pronouncements of their political representatives and to make informed judgments about crucial issues.

In addition, debate develops skills and knowledge that will help the debater become an elite and college-ready student, and will also help them to develop a civic and political identity. Students will develop a sense of ownership of the world and a sense of empowerment, as they will know specific global and domestic issues, and the ways in which the government can solve our generation’s problems.

The individual skills learned through debate have a broader impact on society as well. Because it teaches the principles of tolerance, nonviolence and respect for different points of view, debate can close the gap between minority and majority cultures, and other groups divided by long-standing animosities. In a school setting, it breaks the social barriers making the students free and willing to share ideas. Similarly, debates are a way to foster both national and international understanding, cooperation, and a free and lively exchange of ideas. In bringing together students from around the country and from vastly different backgrounds, debates offer much more than a mere contest of formal argumentation. By their very nature, debates break down national, economic, cultural and ethnic boundaries, showing that opposing views can be explored in a way that connects rather than divides people. As a process that both embodies and encourages peaceful discussion rather than aggressive confrontation; debate offers the world a tool that could not be timelier or more necessary.

Teachers should therefore take an active role in promoting debates. This can start from within a classroom to inter-class or inter-school level. We do not have to wait for an official invite but rather, we need to initiate it if we hope to promote the analytical and communicative skills.

The writer is a lecturer at The Adventist University of Central Africa.