The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) is an annual English-language debating tournament for high school.

Six countries participated at the first tournament, staged in Australia in 1988. Since then, the WSDC has grown to embrace teams from over 50 countries, with around 30 taking part each year.

WSDC debates use a special format known as the 'World Schools Style'. This is a combination of the British Parliamentary and Australian formats, designed to meet the needs of the tournament. Each debate comprises eight speeches delivered by two three-member teams (the Proposition and the Opposition). Each speaker delivers an eight-minute speech; then both teams deliver a "reply speech" lasting four minutes, with the last word being reserved for the Proposition. Between the end of the first and the beginning of the last minute of an eight-minute speech, the opposing party may offer "points of information". The speaker may refuse these, but should take at least one or two points during his or her speech.

The WSDC normally takes place over the course of ten days. Each national team competes in eight preliminary debates: four prepared debates (the motion having been announced a few weeks before the start of the tournament) and four impromptu debates (for which teams have one hour to prepare). Once the eight preliminary rounds have been completed, the 16 best teams compete in knock-out debates culminating in a Grand Final. For each debate, three judges (or more in later rounds) mark each debater on his or her style, content and strategy.

The WSDC is governed by a World Schools Debating Council. Through democratic voting by representatives of all participating countries, the Council decides which countries will host the tournament, monitors and revises WSDC rules, and elects an Executive Committee to handle matters such as adjudication, language issues, education and finance.

Aims of the World Schools Debating Championships

• To achieve excellence in debating
• To encourage debating throughout the world
• To promote international understanding
• To promote free speech

In order to further these aims, all participating countries agree that:

• The team of any participating country may be required to debate any issue.
• The team of any participating country may be required to debate against the team of any other participating country.
• The team of any participating country is entitled to take part in the Championships on the same basis as any other participating country's team.

Past Championships

Future Championships

• 2006 - to be held in Cardiff, Wales

External links

• World Schools Debating Championships
• 2006 World Schools Debating Championships