Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School, Dar es Salaam: Debate champions
In October, the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School (AKMSS), Dar es Salaam participated in the Mwalimu Nyerere Schools Invitational Debate Championship, which it has been consistently participating in over the past seven years.
Organised by the Tanzania Competitive Rhetoric Organisation, the competition helps students in Grades 7-12 from Kenya, Uganda and South Africa to enhance their self-confidence, critical thinking and speaking skills. The students are also exposed to issues of global importance and are challenged to think of sustainable solutions. Last year, AKMSS, Dar es Salaam won 23 medals in the competition, with five students getting recognised as the “Best Speaker”.
“Since the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School, Dar es Salaam was the defending champion of this competition, our students faced immense pressure to maintain our championship status and bring honour to the school,” said Ms Vinita Tomar, head of the English department.
Out of the five debate teams from the school, four reached the quarterfinals, three advanced to the semi-finals and one team emerged as the overall winner in the seniors category. This victory secured the winning team’s spot in the Johannesburg Summer Holiday Debate Open. AKMSS, Dar es Salaam also had two public speakers representing the school, with one of them achieving second place in the juniors category.
The winning team – Grade 10 students Anish Saraswat, Ananya Rao and Shimmer Gupta, and Diploma Programme (DP) 2 Nidhi Vijaykumar – represented the school admirably by clinching the championship and earning merit medals. Two speakers were recognised as the “Best Potential Speakers”, and one of them was awarded the title of the “Sixth Best Speaker” in the tournament.
“I was quite nervous and anxious at the start of the competition, but our team members provided incredible support throughout, and I knew they had my back,” Nidhi said. “I wouldn't have been able to do it without them.”
Congratulations to the students for reaching this significant milestone!
Photos (top to bottom):
- Student participants from AKMSS, Dar es Salaam.
- Winning students of the senior category.
