The University of Papua New Guinea's SRC Inter-School Debate is set to commence this month starting off with the preliminary rounds followed by the finals. The debate is based on the theme, “Road to Vision 2050: Where are we?”, and comprises six teams from each of the schools in the University. The six teams include the School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Physical Sciences, School of Humanities, School of Business, and also a team formed by external students. Chairperson of the Inter-school debate competition, Mr. Shahar Shalom Yadin, said the main purpose of this debate competition is to aspire students to do some extra curriculum activities outside of their ordinary classes. “The debate will teach the students to ponder upon things that goes just beyond their studies and also to experience some practical experience in terms of presenting, arguing and debating.” Yadin said the debate competition which is formed by the SRC academic’s committee finally became active after four years due to COVID-19. He said the SRC has decided to use the state policy of vision 2050 with its seven pillars which focuses on the development of PNG to be used in this year’s debate. “The idea is to stimulate discussion and have a competitive activity that involves all students in rethinking vision 2050 and the different targets and goals.” Yadin thanked the SRC Academic’s Committee for taking the initiative to start the Inter-school Debate Competition which will enhance all students from every year levels by providing them with both fun and creative competitive activities. “We provide with such fun, creative and inspiring events outside the context of just studying from books and from lectures in class which turns out to be boring for them.” According to Yadin, the committee have allowed each school to run its own internal competitions in their respective schools followed by their selection process in order to form the best team that they can come up with to represent them in the inter-school competition. “I have to say these schools have been taking the debate seriously by running their own competition and seeking judgments mainly from the final year students in order to form the best team.” Yadin said that the prizes of the winning team are determined by the sponsors. He added that the SRC Academic Committee has so far establish contacts with three potential sponsors. Yadin concluded that the preliminary round starts on the 16th and 19th of this month, followed by the semi-finals which will be held on the 24th and the finals which is on the 28th.