Press Releases
Singapore Team wins Championship at the 9th International Public Policy Forum in New York City, USA - First International Team to ever win the Prestigious Debating Competition
The Ministry of Education (MOE) congratulates the team that represented Singapore for the first time in the 9th International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) for emerging Champions in the global debate competition held in New York City, USA, from 16 to 18 April 2010. It is the first international team to ever win the competition. Singapore came in first out of 240 teams which represented 40 American states and 31 countries. The team was presented with the coveted Bickel and Brewer Cup, a travelling trophy that resides with the IPPF winner, and a grand prize of USD 10,000.
The Singapore team comprised debaters Teoh Ren Jie, Benjamin Mak, Ashish Kumar and Adil Hakeem from Raffles Institution (Junior College), and Ng Li Ki from Hwa Chong Institution. The team was coached by Mrs Geetha Creffield from Anglo Chinese Junior College and managed by Team Manager, Mdm Evelyn Woels, from MOE.
Background on the IPPF Debating Competition
Founded in 2001 by the law firm of Bickel & Brewer, the IPPF is the only international contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
The 2009/10 IPPF topic was: “Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty”. Each participating team submitted an academic essay on the topic that was judged by an Essay Review Committee, which determined the top 32 teams based on the overall quality of each qualifying round paper. The top 32 teams, which included the Singapore team, entered into a single-elimination written debate tournament. This was followed by the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ written debate rounds where the Singapore team defeated Emil Racovita National College, Romania, and Maritzburg College, South Africa. The Singapore team became one of only two international teams to advance into the all-expenses paid ‘Elite Eight’ Oral advocacy rounds held in New York City. The other international team was represented by students from Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, New Zealand.
In New York City, the Singapore team faced and defeated Suncoast Community High School, Florida, in the Quarter Final round, Notre Dame High School, California, in the Semi Final round and Henry Clay High School, Kentucky, in the Grand Final. The judging panel consisted of eminent professionals in the fields of Academia, Forensics, Law and Politics and included former NATO Commander General, Wesley K. Clark, President of New York University, John Sexton, Director of Forensics of Emory University, Melissa Maxcy Wade and Partner of Bickel and Brewer Law firm, William A. Brewer III. The Final debate was also opened to live voting online where the Singapore team garnered 70% of the votes.