Applications open for the School Mock Court Case International Debating Competition
Applications are now open for the School Mock Court Debating Competition, an international debating competition that will be held virtually. This pilot programme, organised by the School Mock Court Case Project, a Scottish registered charity, has been designed to help students who have been affected by school closures and shutdowns due to COVID-19.
Individual students and schools are encouraged to form a team to participate in the virtual event. Run over six weeks, participants will be challenged by two current and controversial debate topics. Students will receive four weekly lectures from well-respected professionals and speakers for both opposing sides. They then have two weeks to prepare for the live debate.
Lecturers and speakers include Iver Ørstavik from Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, David Azoulay from Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Doug Skinner from Greenpeace.
“The world is a smaller place than it might at first seem and it is vital that students have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with their global peers which is what makes this new programme from the Mock Court school project. Our students have gotten so much out of their participation in the Mock Court competition that I am really excited to see this new initiative and look forward to seeing it flourish,” commented JohnPaul McCabe, a Modern Studies teacher at Prestwick Academy who has been involved in the Mock Court Project for many years.
Participation in the event is free and is open to all students aged between 13 and 18. As a virtual and global competition, registrations have already been received from students located in Poland, Germany, Denmark, Bulgaria, Dubai, Chile and Portugal. Debates will be run via a video conferencing system and will be held in the UK time zone.
Registrations for the plastics debate close on 8th March 2021 and the programme will run March through April.
For the judiciary debate, registrations close 27th April 2021 with the event to run May through June.
For further information about the virtual event or to apply, visit www.mockcourt.org.uk/debate
Key points:
• Applications now open for the School Mock Court Case International Debating Competition pilot programme
• Designed to help students across the world who have been affected by school closures and shutdowns due to COVID-19
• Free, online international event
The School Mock Court Project is a Scottish charity providing equal learning opportunities through mock courts, engaging children with learning and providing inspiration for their bright futures.