In stark contrast to the metropolis of Kathmandu, we next ventured to Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the smallest city in Nepal. The Samata School in Bhaktapur is about 20 minutes outside the main town centre. In a smaller school, we expected to teach approximately 100 students in years 8 to 10. However, seeing the programme’s impact in previous years, the teachers insisted on including the year 7 students to improve their spoken English and confidence from a young age.
The familial feel of the school provided a unique teaching experience here. The older students would often guide the younger ones to class in a very sibling-like manner before eating their breakfast together in the school kitchen. This familial affection was extended to the Debate Mate team upon arrival. The students introduced themselves and shared how excited they were for the classes to begin.
The teaching day began with a welcome at the assembly, followed by the students’ rendition of the Nepali National Anthem. Based on the success of “Za!” (or Ja! as the students would say) in the Kathmandu school, we decided to begin the first session in Bhaktapur with a game of “Za!”. This was to build up energy and emotion and prepare the students to use their voices in public. Following the classic ‘Where do you stand’ game, we played the Balloon Debate or Shipwreck game, during which students chose a character and then convinced the class why they should be given the last remaining life jacket on the boat. One of the students chose to be Uttam Sanjel, the founder of the Samata Schools and spoke about how he would set up more Samata schools in Nepal. Importantly, both games aimed to subtly introduce students to debating and the power of constructive disagreement. After a brief break, the students were coached on their speaking style. An interactive sales game ensued, with students thinking outside the box to sell items ranging from pencils and notebooks to wet wipes and water bottles.
On the second day, students were introduced to the PEEL structure. They quickly grasped it and diligently wrote down important points in their notebooks. Mentors employed different tactics to explain rebuttals, a more challenging concept. Some used football analogies to describe PEELs as attacks and rebuttals as defence.
On the penultimate day, the rules and structure of the debate were explained to the students. The students participated in two practice debates before the competition and competed for a place on the team. Even the students who did not make the final team cheered for their peers heartily. One of the selected students approached me [Sidharth] and suggested selecting someone very smart but less outspoken. This illustrated the sense of unity amongst the Bhaktapur students.
We immersed ourselves in Nepali culture on the weekend, particularly in Bhaktapur, the Cultural Capital. Inspired by Bhaktapur Samata School students’ enthusiasm for learning, we embraced pottery, an ancient craft. Despite seeming like a solo activity, our instructor emphasised teamwork, mirroring Debate Mate’s core value. We learned to listen in pottery, like when debating, to avoid mistakes and create strong outcomes. Our confidence grew as we shaped our second clay pieces, just as students grow in confidence through our curriculum. This experience highlighted the parallels between pottery and the skills we teach at Debate Mate.
When the day of the regional competition arrived, the same motions as those in Kathmandu were debated. Only two teams won both their debates, advancing to the final round and earning a spot in the Grand Final in Kathmandu.
The final round of the Bhaktapur competition took place in the school courtyard, with the bamboo classrooms as a backdrop. During the floor debate, the teams received questions from the audience, including one from their English teacher, Dipa. Throughout the programme, she was astonished by how confident her students were at speaking in English during the debate sessions compared to in her class.
We were reminded that it was monsoon season when we moved on to the summary speakers. As the rain began to fall, the audience, glued to their benches and deeply engaged in the debate, sought protection using notebooks or hands to shield their heads, determined not to miss any action. Meanwhile, Debate Mate staff quickly covered their finalists with umbrellas, ensuring the debate continued uninterrupted.
Everyone ran for cover when the final round ended, and our judges deliberated on the debate. After Team Bullet Proof’s win was announced, students eagerly awaited to be handed their Debate Mate participation certificates. An enthusiastic Year 7 team that achieved the highest speaker points in the competition—a remarkable accomplishment for such a young group competing against older students—was later invited to compete in the Grand Final in Kathmandu, too.
The final round here was a moment that embodied dedication, gratitude, and a memorable way to mark the end of our teaching in our second location in Nepal.
Week 2 by Elissa, Arielle & Sidharth