Nine Year 10 students from the Malta Visual and Performing Arts School recently completed a week-long debating course with the MICC Debate Academy. This opportunity was part of a Youth Exchange Programme organized by the Kreisau Initiative in collaboration with the Malta Human Rights Education Centre. Mr. Roger Tirazona, Head of the Department for Ethics Education, within the Directorate for the Early Years, Languages and Humanities, coordinated the students’ participation and has fostered a collaborative relationship with the organization, enabling more students to access these valuable resources and projects since January 2024. The students were also accompanied by Ms Emma Xerry, dance teacher at MVPA. The project provided a live-in experience for the students, who were joined by peers from Serbia, Germany, and Poland.
MICC Debate Academy empowers students and teachers to refine critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills. Through informed and respectful dialogue on global issues, participants engaged in an international debate tournament after they had been given training and workshops on the process, specifically on the British Parliamentary Debate system. During this week, participants were introduced to the art of competitive debating. They attended sessions on argumentation, rebuttal, public speaking, and other exercises that helped them learn how to advocate for themselves, express their opinions, and use their voices effectively. Following this training, an actual tournament was organized, allowing students to gain real-life, practical experience in debating.
Ethics education emphasizes critical thinking as a core aspect of learning. It focuses on clarifying logical reasoning, building sound arguments, fostering respectful communication, promoting human rights, encouraging global citizenship, and empowering students for their well-being. This initiative is part of the efforts by the Ethics Education Department to implement the National Education Strategy for 2024-2030.
The Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union funded the MICC Debate Academy and the participation of students from the Malta Visual and Performing Arts School.
