SHANGLA: Students of private schools outclassed their peers from government-run schools in a bilingual declamation contest held here on Tuesday.

The contest was organised by the local youth under the banner of Speak Debating Society at Chakesar Shangla. Mohammad Amin, district education officer, educationists Sultan Sikandar, Mirza Ali, Bakht Rawan, Sharifullah Sharif, Sharafat Ali, convener Alpuri tehsil council Shaukat Ali and district councillor Chakesar Sher Ali spoke on the occasion.

According to the organisers, students from 13 government and private schools took part in the declamation, which was the first ever in Chakesar.

Sohail Ahmed, president of Speak Debating Society, said they would continue organising such events in Shangla.

Faiza Faiz, a 6th grader, said it was her first attempt in such a great event, adding though she did not get position she was optimistic for the next event.

“The government should also provide such opportunities, especially for girls, to help them enhance and polish their speech skills,” she said.

DEO Mohammad Amin lauded the youths’ efforts for organising the contest and also expressed his views about the importance of education.

The other speakers also highlighted the importance of education and urged the organisers to keep holding speech contests for students.

Jasim Ali from Public High School obtained first position, Kamran Ahmed from Chakesar Model School secured second position while Babar Khan from Hamalyan Public School got third position in the English speech contest.

In Urdu speech, Umar Farooq from Chakesar Public School got first position, Farhan Ali from Chakesar Model School secured second spot and Sherbaz Alam from Hamalyan Model School clinched third position, respectively, while overall speech champion award was won by Hamalyan Model School.

The position holding students were awarded with shields and certificates.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2018