ST JAMES and George Silundika high schools will represent Matabeleland North in the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) environment school debate competition for the southern region to be held in Gwanda next month after winning the provincial finals. Mthandazo Nyoni Own Correspondent
The finalists were decided at the provincial finals in Lupane on Wednesday featuring the hosts — Mabhikwa High School and Mosi oa Tunya High School of Victoria Falls.
This year’s theme is: “The solution to waste management challenges in urban areas lies in the privatisation of waste management”.
St James High and Mosi oa Tunya High supported the topic while George Silundika and Mabhikwa High were on the opposing side.
Each school walked away with a 150-litre water tank, 10 brooms, a plastic bin and four gold medals.
Best speakers Shariffah Pateya and Lydia Bhebhe got with a gold medal and $10 each.
The Southern region final will be held at Mzingwane High School in Matabeleland South on September 27.
EMA provincial environmental manager for Matabeleland North region Chipo Zuze-Mpofu said such debates promoted competition at schools where students would bring about better solutions to environmental issues.
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“This is the only way students can be motivated in researching more on environmental issues,” she said.
“We chose them because we want to catch them young so that when they become policy makers of tomorrow, they would be people who appreciate the importance of protecting the environment in their lives.”
Matabeleland North education director Boithalelo Mguni said the government was eager to see children becoming aware of issues affecting the environment from primary school level.
“We want to promote such debates even at primary schools to strengthen the environmental science,” she said.
“This will help students to think through issues of concern,” she added.