By Phillip Pasula
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is at it again in an important partnership with the Association for the Teaching of English in Malawi (ATEM) Northern Education Division (NED) Chapter; this time in a speech writing competition.
Last year, the ACB also committed itself to partner with ATEM NED in an essay writing competition which was won by 14-year-old Thokozani Kondwani, a Form 3 female student from Mzuzu Government Secondary School.
This year’s competition will run in the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year and all secondary school going students from both public and private schools are eligible to participate with 3rd November, 2023 set as the final date for receiving entries by the Northern Education Division office.
This partnership by ACB and ATEM NED in this speech writing competition is coming when the ACB has clocked 25 years since its establishment and so the question for the speech is calling for a student to outline notable achievements by the ACB, best practices employed in combating corruption and challenges faced in the fight against corruption, among other areas.
ATEM NED President, William Phiri, told Maravi Post that the competition will help students refine their writing skills.
Said Phiri:“As ATEM NED, we never cease to stir our students with activities that help to improve their performance in English as a core subject. This year again, we have come up with this speech writing competition which we feel will help to encourage secondary school going students to express creativity and refine their writing skills.
“This will ensure they perform well in national examinations. The competition also aims at getting the youth fully involved in matters of national interest which include the fight against corruption.”
Principle Public Education Officer from the ACB, Edward Kamvabingu, said it was the interest of the ACB that the youth should always take part in matters of national interest.
“It is our interest that the youth should have the knowledge regarding the fight against corruption. For Malawi to deal with corruption effectively, the youth should be given room in the fight at an early stage so that they become responsible citizens,” Kamvabingu said.
Commenting on the development, Senior Quality Assurance Officer for Languages at NED, Christopher Ndongolera Mwangupili, told Maravi Post that the ACB has come at the right time for this partnership.
“The speech writing competition is twofold. It first gives space for students to practice what they learn in English. Secondly, it gives them space to take part in providing solutions to national challenges and in this case, corruption. That is one way of achieving the national education goals. Therefore this partnership is a welcome step,” said Mwangupili.
The overall winner in the division will go away with K150, 000.00, a gold medal, certificate and ACB branded materials.
The winner on second position will get K100, 00.00, a silver medal, certificate and ACB branded materials while that on third position will walk away with K50, 000.00, a bronze medal, certificate and ACB branded materials as well.
