TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATARDEBATE Centre, a member of the Qatar Foundation, recently organised the National Schools Arabic Debating Championship at Al Wakra Independent Secondary School for Boys.

According to a press release issued on Monday, 20 teams representing different schools in Qatar participated in the competition.

At the end of the competition, Al Shahaniya Independent School for Girls (team 1) came first while Al Shahaniya Independent School for Girls (team 2) was the first runners-up and the third place went to Tareq Bin Ziyad (team1).

Speaking at the event, Head of Arabic Programmes at QatarDebate Centre Dr Abed al Sameai said that competition was the culmination of a season full of events and activities organised by the Arabic Programme department. He said that the competition has added to the achievements of ‘QatarDebate’ in spreading the culture of debate and dialogue between the Arabic-language schools students.

“The debate has helped in boosting self-confidence for public speaking among the students as well as helped in language skills development and increased interest in Arabic language,” he said.

Sameai stated that before there were a number of students whose could not speak in front of crowd for even one minute, but now after a number of exercises and participation in some tournaments and activities organised by the Centre, they have become the best speakers in the championship.

He said that the his department will begin preparations for next season in earnest, and that the tournaments will be developed in Arabic and expanded to involve preparatory schools as well in a bid to involve the largest number of schools.

Aahd Mustafa of Al Shahaniya Independent School for Girls received the award as the best speaker. The remaining top nine speakers are Ghaith Mohammed of Tariq bin Ziyad, Tahani al Shamri of Al Shahaniya Independent School, Ahmed al Maredi of Tariq bin Ziyad, Laila Abdeqader of Al Shahaniya Independent School, Yasmeen Mohamed of Rabaa Al Adawia, Yazen al Henawi of Tariq bin Ziyad, Qamar Monir of Al Shahaniya Independent School, Hamed al Hussain of Al Wakra School and Jaber Abu Hemeid of Al Wakra School, the release said.