QatarDebate to hold schools championship
QatarDebate, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is organising the Second International Schools Arabic Debating Championship.
The event will be held on March 23-26, with the participation of 25 teams from 21 Arab and four foreign countries.
Dr Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director, QatarDebate, said: “On behalf of QatarDebate, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for the important role the media plays in delivering QatarDebate’s message to local, Arab and international communities."
"This helps us achieve the vision and goals of QatarDebate. Special thanks also go to ConocoPhillips, the gold sponsor of the championship, represented here by Frank Feghali, Vice-President and Commercial Manager.”
The competition is part of QatarDebate’s efforts to support and promote the art of debate and dialogue in Arabic and build the foundations of the discipline in the Arab world.
Maarafi said QatarDebate seeks to promote the art of debating and its use as an educational tool to encourage students to utilise critical thinking, research and study, and refine leadership and language skills.
It also seeks to deepen relations in the fields of education and culture among participating schools, presenting an opportunity to consolidate friendship and closer links, work on rapprochement between Arab youth, and promote a culture of peaceful dialogue, which produces knowledge and opens the door for rich diversity.
Feghali said: “This is the second year ConocoPhillips is honoured to offer gold sponsorship to the championship, which is a special occasion because it represents many values that are indispensable to the success of any individual or action, and include integrity, teamwork and knowledge sharing practised by all participants and which we also carry out at ConocoPhillips every day.”
Gary Sykes, President, ConocoPhillips Qatar, said: Not only does the championship enrich intellectual vitality and promote linguistic competency among Arab youth but it also helps position Qatar as a centre for the art of debate in the region, preparing a confident and intellectual generation to lead the future of Qatar towards National Vision 2030.”
Jamal Al Baker, Event Manager, QatarDebate, said QatarDebate is keen to communicate with all Arab countries ahead of the championship to secure participation.
Faizeh Abdelrazeq, Head of Arabic Programme, QatarDebate, said topics for the championship are characterised by diversity and inclusiveness to cover multiple areas and deal with contemporary issues of common interest of all participants and related to Arabic societies.
As part of the championship, QatarDebate organised the sixth academy to prepare Arabic debating coaches from Arab and foreign countries last November 17-19.
Dr Abdellatif Salami, Educational Programme Manager, QatarDebate, said QatarDebate will issue its third publication on the art of debating during the championship.
The publication will focus on debating mechanisms and techniques and address rhetoric, targeting those who seek to learn and understand the art of debate and dialogue.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
