St. Brother André Senior High School emerged victorious in the annual Inter-Catholic Schools Debate contest.
The event was held at St. Augustine’s College on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, as part of Catholic Schools’ Education Week celebration. The contest brought together four Catholic secondary schools from Kasoa and Cape Coast areas to discuss motions related to the role of teachers in Catholic education.
The debate focused on two central topics: “The Catholic School Teacher Plays a Vital Role in Fostering Personal Discernment and Growth,” and “The Catholic School Teacher is a Good Shepherd in the Contemporary Time.” Participating schools included St. Bro. Andre S.H.S., St. Gregory Catholic School, St. Augustine’s College, and Holy Child School.
St. Brother Andre S.H.S. was represented by debaters Caleb-Lord Owusu, Charisma Gift Hammond, Kofi Osei Fosu, and Rachael Amao. Francis Cobbah-Biney, Derick Bayi-Boro, and William Yayra Gonzales represented St. Augustine’s College. The Holy Child School team consisted of Eunice Osei and Esther Aku Claver, while Joseph Kwakye, Lydia Afriyie, and Juliet Benedicta Tetteh represented St. Gregory Catholic School.
In the first round, St. Bro. Andre S.H.S. debated against St. Gregory Catholic School on the motion concerning the role of teachers in fostering personal discernment. St. Bro. Andre S.H.S. argued in favour of the motion, securing a win with 438 points against St. Gregory’s 330.
The second round featured St. Augustine’s College debating Holy Child School on the same motion. St. Augustine’s, arguing for the motion, triumphed with 430 points to Holy Child’s 341, advancing them to the final round.
The third and final round saw the winners of the first and second rounds – St. Brother Andre S.H.S. and St. Augustine’s College – face off on the motion regarding Catholic school teachers as “good shepherds.” St. Brother Andre S.H.S. took the opposing viewpoint from their original motion. After a tightly contested session, St. Bro. Andre S.H.S. won by a narrow margin, with 479.5 points to St. Augustine’s 454.
The debates showcased students’ critical thinking and persuasive skills. The close results are being called evidence of the dedication the schools show for academic achievement. The tournament aimed to further highlight the importance of Catholic education and celebrate its contribution to student development within the region.