Learners off to Cape Town to debate at SAs
The four were the cream of the crop among 48 peers from 24 schools who participated in the provincial competition on Saturday August 22 in Mbombela.
MASHISHING – Four learners of the town will represent Mpumalanga during the South Africa Model United Nations Debates to be held in Cape Town in October.
The four were the cream of the crop among 48 peers from 24 schools who participated in the provincial competition on Saturday August 22 in Mbombela.
Patricia Hlongwane (18) and Lerato Mnisi (16) are learners of Skhila Secondary School and Ngobile Mkhonto (17) and Mathapelo Manyama (17) are of Mashishing High School.
The learners engaged in provoking debates about various topics they were given to present. The competition was started by South Africa Model United Nations with the Department of Education.
Mathapelo said it was an honour for her to be among the chosen ones to represent Mpumalanga during the nationals. “We are looking forward to it and we know that we will win,” she said.
When asked how they planned to win and proceed to the nationals, the team said they would work harder. “We are planning to research more, practise and give our everything to make sure that we have all the information we need to make it,” she added..
The team will fly to Cape Town and it will be their first time travelling by plane. “We feel very fortunate to experience this and cannot wait,” said Nqobile.
According to one of the teachers, Johnny Ramodike, Mashishing High School is very proud of the learners. “We hope they will make it to the next level of the debate, we believe in them and know that they can achieve more,” he said. If the team performs well in the nationals they will proceed to the international competition which will be held in New York.
“If our team does not proceed to the next level, one of the learners, according to the competition rules, will be selected to accompany the winners to New York because the team has already qualified to be in the nationals,” he explained.
