Students from Shireland Collegiate Academy were crowned champions in the nationwide Debate Mate competition, as part of Comic Relief and GSK’s partnership to fight malaria and inspire the next generation to take action and raise awareness of the deadly disease.
Beating 129 schools from all over the country to the top spot, pupils successfully argued against the motion This house believes that the best way to cure malaria is education – explaining that although education is important, ending malaria needs more action to be taken including improving health facilities and access to medical treatment.
Hosted by TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Ore Oduba, and judged by an expert panel including TV presenter and campaigner Charlie Webster, Professor James Logan and young malaria reporters from Sierra Leone, the event saw Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick take on The Sydney Russell School in Dagenham as they debated how education can help end malaria – a disease that claims a child’s life every two minutes.
Ore Oduba said: “It’s been such an honour to host today’s event. All of the students that took part have been fantastic and showed how young people really can make a change on issues that matter. Congratulations to Shireland Collegiate Academy, the winning school.”
