REPORT OF BASELINE ORATORS NETWORK BACK TO SCHOOL DEBATE AND PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION (Yaoundé edition)

Following the successful Back-to-School Debate and Public Speaking event in Limbe this August, the spotlight shifted to Yaoundé in September. The BON organized the competition on September 21, 2024, at Mboa Hub Yaoundé. It brought together 16 exceptional students from high schools and universities across Yaoundé to compete for the monthly mini prize and, more importantly, to enhance their critical thinking, debating, and public speaking skills.
In preparation for the competition, a series of online preparatory classes were held via Google Meet and WhatsApp. The day commenced at 8 AM with briefings on public speaking and self-introduction. Participants were assigned team names and debate rooms, inspired by
prominent towns in Cameroon, including Team Yaoundé, Douala, Ebolowa, Buea, Maroua, and Bertoua.

Public Speaking Round One
The event began with the first round of public speaking, a knockout round featuring prepared speeches in three public speaking rooms. The top four speakers from each room advanced to the public speaking finals.

DEBATE ROUND ONE
Motion: This House Believes That Schools Should Empower Students to Choose Their Own Learning Paths. The first round of the debate featured prepared motions in three debate rooms. In each room, the two best speakers qualified for the finals. After each round, the jury provided feedback on the participants’ performances and offered recommendations for improvement. Participants then enjoyed a short break with light refreshments to catch their breath.

PUBLIC SPEAKING FINALS
A total of 12 participants qualified for the public speaking finals, where they competed to be crowned the champion of the September edition. This round featured impromptu speeches, showcasing the remarkable improvement and heightened performance of the participants following the lessons and feedback from the jury after the first round. The public speaking finals were highly competitive and intense, but ultimately, only one participant emerged as the champion for this edition.

DEBATE FINALS
A total of six participants qualified for the debate finals, where they showcased their critical thinking abilities in an impromptu debate. While the participants gave their best efforts, there is still room for improvement to compete and win major tournaments. At the end of the debate finals, the jury provided extensive feedback, lessons, and strategies to help participants refine their skills and correct their mistakes.

Awards and Closing Remarks
The winners of the public speaking and debate competitions were announced and awarded their prizes. The remaining participants were encouraged to remain resilient, continue learning, and improve their strategies, as many more competitions are on the horizon. Overall, the BON Back-to-School Public Speaking and Debate Yaoundé edition was a success. The day concluded with closing remarks, feedback sharing, networking, and group photos.