English Teacher Advocates for National Debate Centre

By Aluong Maker Aluong

The debate patron of Blue Nile Secondary School and an English teacher, Mr. Atui John Malual, has called on the government to construct a national debate center.

He believes that such a facility would bring participants together, improving the organization and effectiveness of debate activities across the country.

“We need to take debate seriously, as it is here that leaders are formed. You will never find a long-serving, uninformed member of Parliament or army,” Malual told The Dawn in an exclusive interview.

He urged all South Sudanese to prioritize debating activities for learners.

Having participated in various debating events in South Sudan and the East African Debate Championship, Mr. Malual encourages South Sudanese to invest more effort into cultivating a debate culture. He made this statement during an interview with The Dawn Newspaper on 27 June 2025.

Malual recounted how the debates he has witnessed have shaped his perspective. He attended the Joint Debate Society (JDS), closely linked to the East African Debate. The 2024 edition, involving most East African countries, was held in Rwanda, where Ugandan Carines emerged as champions. The 2025 edition took place in Kampala, Uganda, with Junub Debate Academy (JDA) crowned the winner.

He stated that much of his focus will be on the South Sudan Debaters Contest (SSDC), which began in 2019 with only a few schools participating in this pivotal tournament. The event was halted in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, as no schools were operational that year. However, from 2021 to 2023, there were signs of renewed interest in this debating activity.

In the recent phase of 2024-2025, hosted in Juba at Saint Lawrence High School, fifty-one teams participated, with Elite High School Team D emerging victorious over Amonto Girls Diamond House Team.

“Although we have made efforts, the standard of East African debate is still lacking. There are many aspects we need to address as South Sudanese to compete effectively on a global stage. Training is essential prior to the tournament. Our judges, unfortunately, are not adequately trained, which affects their ability to perform at the level of well-trained and experienced judges,” Malual explained.

He reiterated that a judge should ideally be someone with experience as a debater and possibly a debate patron. This role requires not only the ability to speak clearly but also the skill to judge fairly while recognizing and crediting deserving participants.

“There is a clear distinction in debate perception in South Sudan,” lamented Malual.

Despite the disparities between South Sudan and the East African region, Malual continues to encourage the citizens of this young nation to embrace debating. He believes it provides life-changing lessons, such as enhancing students’ abilities to engage in intellectual debates, improving speaking skills, fostering critical thinking, building confidence in public speaking, and promoting good research practices.

“We are lagging behind, but it is still early. We should not give up. The few weaknesses we face may seem indelible, but they are erasable. Therefore, let us train judges, engage more schools in debate competitions, and not be discouraged from this transformative experience. The Debate Society should engage with the government regarding debating activities,” Malual remarked.

He also emphasized that parents should play an influential role in their children’s lives, as they are crucial to their development.