Although the event was at the time run by the Ministry of Education, Education Africa was called in by the then Minister of Education, Professor Sibusiso Bengu, to assist with the project. Everyone agreed that the project had been a resounding success, and that it gave South African learners a unique opportunity to learn about global issues, international relations and human rights.
Each team is made up of four learners, two from a resourced school and two from an under-resourced school. This combination promotes cross-cultural exchange and encourages tolerance and peace between the learners. It also gives under-resourced |
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"We went on a trip of a lifetime. I made lifelong friends and met interesting people. I learnt more about debating and diplomacy than any textbook or workshop ever taught me. And I learned about global perspective... it was life-changing."
Simon Thompson, member of the 2005 SA delegation to New York
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learners the opportunity to compete on an equal footing, as they are able to gain access to research through their partner schools.
To create an authentic sense of the United Nations General Assembly, each team is allocated a country to represent in the debates. Participants need to familiarise themselves with the cultural practices, as well as the social, economic and political policies of the country they represent. Through research and reading, each team is expected to convincingly adopt their country's stance on the issues that are put for
ward for debate, and are expected to adhere to government policy while putting personal feelings aside.
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The format of the competition
- Provincial training workshops. Schools wishing to enter the competition attend a training workshop in their respective provinces where they will be briefed on the rules and procedures, as well as the issues which the teams will be asked to debate. At this stage, each team is allocated the country whose viewpoint they will be debating in the competition. Since each team is made up of two pupils from a resourced school and two from an under-resourced school, there is a need for a great deal of interaction and co-operation between the two schools.
- The provincial competition. This is held in the various provincial legislatures. Each team member receives a certificate of participation and additional certificates are presented to the teams who are placed first, second and third. In view of the importance of HIV/Aids awareness in South Africa, one of the topics up for debate at this level of the competition will revolve around an issue relating to the virus. Both the topics and the adjudicators are selected with the assistance of the United Nations.
- The national competition This is held in Johannesburg. The winning team from each province is appointed a tutor from one of the universities (usually studying international relations or political science) whose task it is to help the team prepare for the national competition. The United Nations again assists in appointing adjudicators for the competition. The winning team, as well as one representative from each of the remaining eight provinces, represents South Africa in an international debating competition held in the UN General Assembly Headquarters in New York.
- The international competition. The winning team of the national competition plus the remaining eight pupils participate in a Model United Nations General Assembly Competition in New York. In 1999 and 2000, the South African delegation competed in Austria and since 2001, the competition has taken place in New York and is attended by over 2 000 delegates from all over the world. In addition to participating in the competition, the South African delegation is also treated to some wonderful sightseeing, as well as a visit to the United Nations. Education Africa USA helps to co-ordinate the visit to the USA.
The Model United Nations of South Africa (MUNSA) is responsible for the preparation of the reading packs, the presentation of workshops and chairing of debates in the various provinces.
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In essence, the debates are an exercise in developing communication skills such as:
- The written preparation of arguments.
- Oral presentations.
- Negotiation skills.
- The reaching of a working compromise and, if selected, to represent South Africa at the international competition.
- Ambassadorial skills.
The Model United Nations General Assembly Competition for South African High Schools is run in co-operation with the United Nations and the Department of Education.
In October 2000, Education Africa was presented with the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for programme excellence in furthering the ideals of the United Nations.
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The Model United Nations General Assembly Competition for South African High Schools is a debating competition which is based on the principles and format of a UN General Assembly Debate, with a focus on the United Nations, international relations and human rights issues. The competition was first held in 1995 as part of the United Nations' 50th anniversary celebrations.