Madam Mariamma Varkey Commemorative Debate for Teachers

In honor of the visionary leader, the 4th edition of the Madam Mariamma Varkey Commemorative Debate for Teachers was held at Our Own English High School Sharjah, Girls, on February 8th, 2025. The event was graced by the presence of our chief guest Mr. Michael Guzder, Senior VP , Education, Indian Schools , GEMS Education, esteemed dignitaries, senior leadership team, participants and GEMS teachers.

Twenty-two debate enthusiasts from 11 GEMS Schools competed on the motion "Emerging technologies enhance staff wellbeing," passionately presenting persuasive arguments for and against it with sharp wit and compelling ideas. The event was expertly moderated by Dr. Sangeeth Ibrahim, Senior Director and Head of the Financial Academy at the Department of Finance, Government of Abu Dhabi. The judging panel, consisting of Mr. Ramesh Anantharaman, Divisional Senior Vice President at flydubai, Ms. Shurooq AlBanna, an accomplished public speaker and finalist of the World Championship of Public Speaking, and Dr. Tabassum Inamdar, a renowned homeopath and celebrated speaker, adjudicated the compelling arguments presented by the participants.

After a highly competitive and intellectually stimulating debate, Ms. Naiomi Symes (OOB) and Ms. Hajira Nazar (OOB) were honored as the Best Speakers, representing both sides of the motion. Ms. Radhika Subramanian (OOS) and Ms. Pritha Banerjee (OIS) secured the position of 1st runners-up, while Ms. Riya Malvin D'Silva (GLS) and Ms. Sonali Banerjee (TMS) were declared the 2nd runners-up. The Rolling Trophy for the Best Team was awarded to Our Own English High School Sharjah - Boys, who demonstrated exceptional teamwork, strong arguments, and outstanding debate skills throughout the competition.

The event concluded on a memorable note, leaving everyone inspired by the incredible display of talent, passion, and thoughtful discourse.