Chundikuli girls and debating goes back to nearly a century. Originating from the Literary Associations, debates always remained integral to the annual programmes of the literary unions.
“There were debates and general talks and extempore speeches and the girls enjoyed taking part in them. We remember some heated debates in the first year on subjects like: “ that girls should not wear European dress”, “That truth is better than fiction” and “ The study of mathematics is a waste of time”. In more recent times, the members have argued whether Ceylon should form part of the Federation of India or if co-education should be encouraged.
AN EXTRACT FROM THE JUBILEE MAGAZINE, 1946 by Saraswathi Walton [later Saraswathi Chelliah, Principal 1962 - 1983]
The English debating Team 2020: Abinaya Gobishangar, Verlini Kumaravel, Araphy Arivalzahan, Joannsophia Paul Suresh
Friendly Debate with St. John’s College, November 2022
Debatingcompetitions
In 2018 and 2019, The Chundikuli debating teams walked away as Champions of the Northern Province Debating Competition.
In September 2020, our girls won the University of Jaffna, English Speakers’ Club competition winning against the University under graduates.
In November 2020, at the OVEP Debater 2020 among girls’ schools nationally, Chundikuli’s debating team represented by Abinaya Gobishangar, Verlini Kumaravel, Araphy Arivalzahan and Joannsophia Paul Suresh emerged 2nd runners up.
Intraschool Debate 2021
An intraschool debate competition was held on the 19th of Nov. 2021, among the students from O/Ls and A/Ls on the motion 'irrespective of their consent, everyone should be vaccinated against COVID'. The debate gave an opportunity for the students not only to learn the debating techniques but also to gain knowledge on the topical issue, 'the Covid and vaccines'. Unlike in the usual debates, in this debate, students were involved in judging after a briefing on the debating techniques by the teacher-in-charge. Ten points out of hundred were allocated for students' vote. The intension was to improve students capacity for listening and understanding the techniques for persuasive speaking and writing. The proposing team won the debate and two speakers won the title as the 'best speaker' and the 'second best speaker'.
Interschool debate 2022
A friendly English debate was held between Chundikuli Girls’ College and St.John’s College on 16th November 2022. Chundikuli Girls’ College with a winning streak in debates; namely the Governor’s trophy (Northern province), CMS Chairman’s trophy, debates with Jaffna University (faculty of Science) and debate organized by the National Olympic Committee of SriLanka, entered into a debate with St.John’s College on the motion, “This house will legalize torture for extracting information from terrorists’’. Both schools were represented by teams of equal caliber and potential.
Debaters:
Proposition: Uthayakumar Pavarasan, Sooriyarajah Saahiththiiyan, Uthayakumar Anparasan, Tavon Shawn
Opposition: Erin Clencia Clencious Loyola, Ashwini Nadeswaralingam, Rasmitha Lankapradeepan, Ilakiya Arivalzahan
Winning side: Opposition – Chundikuli Girls’ College
Adjudicators: Mr. S. Pathujan (Lawyer/ Lecturer – Department of Law, University of Jaffna), Mr Srirajkumar Kanapathipillai (Trainer, STEPS institute, Northern Province), Mr Rangit Thevarajan ( Teacher, St. Patrick's College, Jaffna)
Chairperson: Mr Antonyrajah Jehu
