Buncrana’s Crana College wins inaugural Donegal ETB schools debate forum

Buncrana’s Crana College has won the inaugural Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) Debate Forum Cup.

Deele College in  Raphoe took the honours in the Plate Competition.

The debating event for Donegal ETB schools took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny. 

Teams from eight schools battled it out in the opening quarter-finals. The four successful teams in the quarter finals went into the Cup Competition while the four unsuccessful teams went into the Plate Competition. The eight quarter-finalists were Crana College in Buncrana, Errigal College in Letterkenny, Finn Valley College in Stranorlar, Deele College in Raphoe, Moville Community College, Magh Éne College in Bundoran, Mulroy College in Milford and St Catherine’s Vocational School in Killybegs. 

 Almost fifty students debated for and against a range of motions that reflected the five ethos values of an ETB school: excellence in education, care, equality, community and respect. 

The idea for this inaugural competition amongst Donegal ETB’s schools came from Errigal College English teacher Jonathan Sellick. 

“Debate is such a vital component of modern society, and it is exciting to give the students the opportunity to showcase their talents in a formal way like this,” he said. 

“The standard on display has been exceptionally high, and the students deserve the utmost praise.”

 The competition took place during national ETB Week, which celebrated Ireland's sixteen Education and Training Boards and the education and training services their schools, colleges and Further Education and Training (FET) centres provide to primary, post-primary and FET students across Ireland.

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Donegal ETB’s Director of Schools, Dr Martin Gormley said: “It was a great experience for all our students who were well coached and prepared for the debates by their teachers. We were also delighted to welcome back many of our retired staff who with other ETB staff members helped to Chair and Adjudicate during the day. There were also students on each of the adjudication panels which helped to promote student voice.”

 Donegal Education and Training Board manages fifteen of the county’s twenty-seven post-primary schools and is a trustee partner for eight Community and Comprehensive schools. Almost 6,000 students attended Donegal ETB schools in the last academic year.