WDI establishes partnership with Singapore debate organization and Ministry of Education
 
PHOTO: Loke Wing Fatt with family
 
Here is a report from Loke Wing Fatt about exciting new initiatives he will carry out with the cooperation of the World Debate Institute and the Singapore Ministry of Education. You can reach him at lokewf@singnet.com.sg
 
I am proud that Loke Wing Fatt, the Society for Associated Inter-Tertiary Debaters and the Ministry of Education in Singapore will be formally cooperating with the World Debate Institute http://debate.uvm.edu/wdiblog/
 
Here is Loke’s news:
 
Below are some exciting news I wish to share with all of you concerning SAID's collaborations with the Singapore Ministry of Education.
 
I am now working with Mrs Lim Lai Cheng, Deputy Director, Languages & Literature, Curriculum Planning & Development Division, of the Ministry of Education to launch 3 debate education projects in 2007:
 
1.    "Debate Across the Curriculum" Pedagogy (DAC)
 
With the help of Dr Alfred "Tuna" Snider of Vermont University, USA and Ms Bojana Skrt of Slovenia, we will introduce and train Singapore teachers in the use of debate in the teaching of almost all school subjects in an effective, enjoyable and relevant manner.  The plan is to bring Dr Snider and Ms Bojana Skrt to Singapore in the 1st week of December in 2007.  I intend to hold this event at the Regional English Language Centre (RELC) for 250 Principals/Teachers/Heads of English Depts.
 
I will need co-trainers for the cascading of the DAC pedagogy after a Master Trainer's Course by Dr Snider and Ms Skrt next year.  Hope you will all sign up.
 
2.    Debate in Primary Schools
 
I am endeavouring to start a debate club at Haig Girls' Primary School through the help of Siglap South Community Centre, as part of the MOE's initiative to bring debating to the primary schools.  The first step is underway now as I am now negotiating with Haig Girls' Primary School to hold a Introduction to Debate event sometime in October or November 2006.
 
My hope is to involve the Secondary One students (13 years old) of Katong Convent as exhibition debaters.
 
Dr Snider will also be making a strong pitch next year for the promotion of debate in primary schools by describing how it is successfully done in American middle schools.
 
Eventually, planting debate clubs and holding debate competitions for primary school students are the twin goals.
 
3.    Debate Open House in the West of Singapore
 
To fulfill my dream of bringing the life-changing skills of debating to students in non-debating elite schools, I hope to start a weekend Debate Open House programme for students of neighbourhood secondary schools in the West of Singapore in January 2007.
 
The aim is to get adult debaters to teach any, yes, any, motivated student how to acquire the basic skills of debating.  Every child who wants to debate matters.
 
I intend to start with 80 students and 8 local volunteer-trainers from SAID.
 
Hope that you will join me in this effort to spread debating in any way you could offer your help.
 
Yours-in-debating,
 
Loke Wing Fatt
Society for Associated Inter-Tertiary Debaters (SAID)
WDI Blog
Monday, September 4, 2006