BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE OPPORTUNITY to learn how to speak in English and even in one’s local language in public gathering must continue to be promoted, provided and practiced said Ms Pauline Fakaia.
Representing the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development at the recent National Oratory speech competition in Honiara, Ms Fakaia said it is vital that schools are encouraged and must continue with this good practice.
“If schools are not maturing an enabling environment for public speaking practice, will our students have confidence in public speaking? No.
“It is therefore very vital that schools are encouraged and must continue with this good practice to constantly engage young people in public speaking opportunities,’’ she said while delivering her key note address on Wednesday 8 September.
“As the saying goes practice makes perfect, so to the school leaders whose schools are represented here, my hearts goes to you for having the reason to see that this is the start of the school program and in doing so you are contributing to ‘maturing future leaders to become better futures leaders and speakers’.
“Leaders are important agents of change. Let me ask you a question, how many of you are frustrated with your speakers who cannot communicate their message effectively,’’ Ms Fakaia questioned.
Ms Fakaia said the Ministry sees it very important for the education system and school curriculum a paramount setting for maturing the growth of knowledge, skills, talents and appropriate attitude, promotes and provides this opportunity for schools to actively participate in.
She highlighted that Wednesday’s event provides all with excellent opportunity to stimulate such speaking skills as well as another opportunity for the future leaders to practice public speaking.
Ms Fakaia also thank the organisers and school leaders for picking up this challenge and providing an enabling environment for future leaders to practice and become better speakers.
She added that the programme coincide the World international literacy day gave the opportunity to pause and thank parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and others in the community who have taught, matured and mended each and helped shaped ones education journey.
“This investments help us acquire to read and write throughout our lives, enabling us to be better a literacy person and in turn through the continuous maturing provided by our teachers through Oratory event further enable us to become better speakers in the future,’’.
“For those who will speak this afternoon, if this is your first time don’t worry or panic, take a big breath, smile and give the best. It takes courage to stand up in front of many people and speak but you representing your school today already shows how proud your school is of you.
“You are a champions in public speaking because you have proven yourselves capable in your first sound of your school base competition,’’ Ms Fakaia said when speaking on behalf of the MEHRD.
Sunday isles news understand that the orders of the speech presentation include junior category grade 4-6 who spoke on the topic, ‘Not all wastes is wastes,’ Inter-mediate – Form 1-3 with the topic, ‘Not all that Glitters is Gold’ and senior category are forms 4-6 who spoke on the countries motor, ‘To lead is to serve’.
Winners of the recent 26th National oratory speech are Shannon Sogavare of Betikama School in the senior category, Leaba Karovo of St Nicholas and Bird Clerah of Goldie College. This year’s theme is ‘nurturing our future leaders to become better speakers of English language’.
Participating schools are, Mbua valley, St. Nicolas primary & college , Bishop Norman Palma primary, Chung-Wah, Bishop Epalle primary, Coronation primary, Perch Christian School primary, White river primary, Kukum SDA primary, Zion Christian academy, Florence young, Tenakoga Adventist high school, Betikama Adventist college, Kilusakwalo CHS, Waimapuru NSS, Selwyn college, set joseph’s Tenaru, Goldie college, burns creek Adventist, kukundu Adventist college, Honiara senior high school, Woodford international school and King George the sixth.
