Kerala Public School Kadma Hosts Prestigious Junior and Senior-Level Competition
Pragya, Arnab Mukherjee, and Lakshita Chowdhary qualify for national
Jamshedpur, August 1: Sacred Heart Convent School (SHCS) emerged as a standout performer at the ASISC Regional Debate Competition 2025 held at Kerala Public School (KPS), Kadma, with student Pragya Singh clinching the first position in both Junior and Senior categories. The event, organised under the banner of the Association of Schools for the Indian School Certificate (ASISC), saw spirited participation from 24 students representing six zones of the Bihar-Jharkhand region—Patna, Deogarh, Ranchi, Bhagalpur, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur.
The debate, held on August 1 brought together some of the region’s most articulate young speakers in a contest that emphasized logic, clarity, and public speaking prowess. Hosted with pride and precision by Kerala Public School Kadma, the event provided an esteemed platform for school-level debaters to showcase their oratory skills and critical thinking abilities.
The programme commenced with a formal inaugural ceremony which featured a welcome address by the School Cabinet Presidents, the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, and a prayer and welcome song. KPS Kadma Principal Sharmila Mukherjee delivered the opening address, welcoming judges, dignitaries, guests, and student participants. She was joined by notable guests including Manorema Nair, Chairperson of KPS Schools; Alamelu Ravishankar, Headmistress of KPS Kadma; and Sangeetha Samanta, Chief QERI of KPS Schools.
Two compelling and socially relevant topics were chosen for the event. The Junior category debated the motion, “Billionaires should spend on education, not spaceships,” while the Senior category tackled the theme, “Regulating Artificial Intelligence is more urgent than innovating it.” Participants debated both for and against the motions, presenting thoughtful arguments and counterpoints.
The Junior category was judged by Dr. (Ms.) D. K. Dhanjal, Debashish Chatterjee, and Anita Choudhary, with Khushboo Singh serving as Chairperson. The Senior category was evaluated by Shamita Ahuja, Nalin Goel, and Dr. Ruchika Tiwary, with Jaishree Sharma as Chairperson.
In the Junior category, Pragya Singh from Sacred Heart Convent School, Jamshedpur secured first place in the “For” category, while Arnab Mukherjee of KPS Kadma topped the “Against” section. Navya Singh (St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Patna) and Dikshit Jha (Holy Family School, Bhagalpur) secured second and third positions respectively in the “For” category. In the “Against” category, Vedant Satyam (St. Francis School, Deogarh) and Chahat Azad Jha (St. Joseph’s School, Bhagalpur) were awarded second and third places.
The Senior category saw Pragya Singh once again taking the top position in the “For” category, followed by Rohini Pandey (St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Patna) and Kushagra Choudhary (Mount Assisi School, Bhagalpur). In the “Against” section, Lakshita Chowdhary of Loyola School, Jamshedpur secured first place, with Prapti Bose (GEMS English School, Patna) and Ruchi Kumari (St. Francis School, Deogarh) taking the second and third positions.
Based on the results, Pragya Singh, Arnab Mukherjee, and Lakshita Chowdhary have qualified to represent the Jamshedpur Zone at the ASISC National Debate Competition 2025. Notably, Pragya Singh’s dual victory across both categories highlights her exceptional debating talent.
The event concluded with the formal announcement of results and a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Alamelu Ravishankar, Headmistress of KPS Kadma. She praised the participants for their thought-provoking performances and extended gratitude to the judges, organizing committee, and audience for contributing to the success of the competition.
The debate was not just a contest but a celebration of articulate expression, logical reasoning, and youthful intellect—core values that define the spirit of the ASISC.
