“Debate and divergence of views can only enrich our History and Culture.”

The English Faculty of the Secondary Block at St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Sec. 44 D, Chandigarh conducted a Debate competition recently. In round one, 12 students of Class IX and X took part. The topic of the debate was ‘Democracy is the best form of Government.’ After a rigorous selection process, the top eight students advanced to the final round of the competition. This round was a much-anticipated event and the topic of the debate was ‘Using Drones Outside the Conventional Battlefields Should Be Permitted.’ The students who were in favour emphasized that drones can be invaluable in delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief in remote and inaccessible areas. Students who spoke against the motion stressed on the lack of stringent regulations that could lead to a proliferation of drones in the hands of individuals or groups with malicious intentions.

The atmosphere in the hall was truly competitive and the participants had to contend with some tough questions from the audience. However, they remained confident and delivered their arguments deftly. Ultimately the debaters concluded that the use of drones outside battlefields should be permitted, but it requires a careful balance between enabling their benefits and addressing the associated challenges and risks through well-crafted regulations. Adya Tandon (XE) and Divyanjali Thakur (XA) secured 1st and 2nd positions respectively. Jashanpreet Kaur (XC) got 3rd position.

The school management members Mr. Sukhdeep Singh Grewal and Mr. Paramdeep Singh Grewal praised the efforts of the students and the faculty members and spoke on how Debate competitions assist young minds and are excellent platforms for students to showcase their critical thinking, public speaking and analytical skills. The School Principal Ms. Monica Chawla emphasized that such competitions are a testament to the importance of critical thinking and effective communication skills and she hoped that many such competitions would be conducted in the future too. She added that debates are not only important for a student’s academic growth but also play a significant role in their personal development.