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PRESS RELEASE

26 February 2010

Singapore Team Comes in Third at 22nd World Schools Debating Championships

1. The Ministry of Education congratulates the team that represented in the 22nd World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) for emerging third in the championships held in Doha, Qatar, from 8 to 18 February. Singapore came in third out of 57 participating countries, after Canada and England. The number of participating teams has increased from 39 last year to 57 teams this year, making the team’s achievement more significant.

2. Three of the five-member team were also ranked within the top 30 speakers of more than 150. Ashish Kumar and Teoh Ren Jie, both from (Junior College), were ranked 12th and 19th respectively, while Benjamin Mak, also from Raffles Institution (Junior College), was ranked 30th.

3. The other members of the Singapore team were Adil Hakeem from Raffles Institution (Junior College), and Ng Li Ki from . The team was coached by Mrs Geetha Creffield from Anglo Chinese Junior College and managed by Team Manager Mdm Evelyn Woels from MOE.

Background of the WSDC

4. The WSDC is an English language international debating competition held annually for debaters aged between 14 to 19 years old. Singapore has participated in this competition since its inception in 1995.

5. MOE selects national debaters to represent Singapore in international competitions including the WSDC through the ‘MOE Invitational Debating Championship’ (MIDC) (previously ‘Junior Colleges Debating Championships’). The MIDC draws talent from junior colleges, centralised institute, schools, specialised schools, polytechnics and foreign system schools in Singapore.

2009-2010 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Debating Competition

6. In addition to the success at the WSDC, the Singapore team is one of only two International teams to have advanced to the “Elite Eight” (Finals) round in the 2009-2010 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Debating competition organised by the Bickel and Brewer Foundation and New York University.

7. The IPPF Finals will be held from 16 to 18 April 2010 in New York City. The Singapore Team comprises Teoh Ren Jie, Benjamin Mak and Ashish Kumar will be accompanied by their coach, Mrs Geetha Creffield and team manager, Mdm Evelyn Woels.

Background of the IPPF

8. The International Public Policy Forum Debating Competition is the only international contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. More than 230 high schools – representing 40 states and 31 foreign countries – registered for the 2009-10 IPPF competition.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION