CHILDREN’S DAY 2020 VIRTUAL DEBATE HELD ON THE 27TH MAY, 2020
MOTION: COVID-19 IS A CLOUD WITH A SILVER LINING
Like so many other things COVID-19 changed the way we approached most things including our annual Children’s Day programme. Well we couldn’t have our usual funfair, but will still had our enthralling debate and fascinating art, poetry and essay competitions only we this year we took our debut on Zoom! It was a really successful occasion and we have our parents, old teachers and Sunshine staff to thank for this.
TIME KEEPERS: AUNTY JOY & AUNTY FEYI
JUDGES: SUNSHINE OLD STUDENTS
- SOBECHI ANYADIKE- U.K
- AYO AMOLE USA
- YESIDE DIPO-SALAMI ABUJA
PROPOSING THE MOTION
Ire Akanle – Chief Speaker
Jolajesu Oyedele
Tobiloba Adisa
Daniel Adeyemi
Tobiloba Bejide
Toluwanimi Adegoke
OPPOSING THE MOTION
Jesutoni Adegoke- Chief Speaker
Ayoowuro Bejide
Racheal Adeyemi
Temiloluwa Adedokun
Oyeladun Abuloye
Princess Akhere
Chike Njokanma
PARENT COORDINATORS
- ADEGOKE
- ADISA
- ADEYEMI
BARR. BEJIDE
MRS AKANLE
- OYEDELE
- ADEGOKE
- NJOKANMA
BARR. ABULOYE
- ADEYEMI
BARR. FOLAKE BEJIDE
TEACHERS
AUNTY YEMI
AUNTY FEYI
MRS ADEDOKUN
TEACHERS
AUNTY JOY
AUNTY JUMOKE
AUNTY ITUA
GROUP A: PROPOSING THE MOTION
IREOLUWA AKANLE (PRIMARY 5)
COVID-19 is a very terrible disease, killing hundreds of thousand people all over the world.
What is a cloud with silver lining? This means negative happenings; events or situations can have positive aspects. Although we may be afraid of COVID-19, yet it is a blessing in disguise and this is the silver lining I am going to talk about:
- Firstly, COVID-19 has seriously made us to intentionally improve our personal hygiene standards.
- Also, we all know by now that COVID-19 has brought the future to us. Almost everything is now done online. Suddenly it is now a generation of internet money because businesses are now done online, very convenient and just a few clicks of the finger.
- Again, family relationships have improved. I will lay emphasis on the bonding between parents and their children because through this a lot of us are better off. For instance I’ve learnt new skills from both my Dad and Mum. For me, I’ve learnt Photoshop from my Dad and making of confectioneries from my Mum.
- And for all of the children celebrating children’s day today, do you know that COVID-19 has been able to magically convince our parents that there is no age limit to the use of all the technology that we are surrounded with. Now we go to classes online and learn new skills online.
- Lastly, we must not look at the bad side of COVID-19 because it will blind us from seeing the unlimited positive impact it has on the whole world.
“STAY POSITIVE, STAY HOME, STAY SAFE”
Counter Points:
- Princess said A.I.T interviewed some children they didn’t like the online classes but is it the whole world that said they didn’t like online classes.
- I don’t even have to talk that much because this is Sunshine’s first Sunshine Children’s Day on Zoom. It is COVID-19 that has brought the future to us.
- Like I said before if you look at the bad side of COVID-19 it will blind us from seeing the positive sides or advantage it has on the world.
TOBILOBA BEJIDE (PRIMARY 6)
- The lockdown has helped to reduce environmental pollution due to the reduction in vehicular movement and industrial actions. The ozone layer is healing.
- The lockdown has helped people to get closer to God, because they have more time to pray and have increased faith in Him.
- The pandemic has encouraged people to be aware of what is going on around the world because people have been listening to the news more frequently.
- The pandemic has made people more disciplined in their daily routines. For example, people obey all the lockdown directives like frequent handwashing, people cannot spend recklessly anymore.
DANIEL ADEYEMI (PRIMARY 5)
- Over the past few weeks, the novel coronavirus – Covid 19 had made its way into Nigeria and more cases are being discovered daily.Despite the deaths that are happening around the world and are probably going to be recorded in Nigeria. I am supporting the motion that COVID-19 has its advantages.
- It provides us a unique opportunity to reassess ourselves and our culture as a nation.
- Development and Economy- our leaders will probably begin to see the need to develop the country now. Especially our hospitals.
- Economy- we should be able to manufacture and refine products of our own. For example, face masks, quality hand sanitizers; hospital beds would not need to be shipped from elsewhere.
- Health care- our hospital should be up to standard, before now politicians could just easily jet out of the country at the slightest sign of headache. But now, they cannot.
- Accident- Accident have reduced drastically. There has been drastic fall in the number of deaths in road, sea and air accidents.
- Science and Technology- it is time to start emphasizing science & technology talents the way we do dance shows and Big brother Nigeria in this country. We should concentrate on how to develop our technology.
- Family bonding- it brings family bonding this period. Husbands are forced to sit down with their wives and children.
- Religion- it is no argument that religion is one of the most active areas of Nigeria life. Countless hours are spent on religious activities. Dishonest characters now found it easier to start a religious gathering, imparting all manner of impractical things. All these activities have gone down because of COVID19 and this has really helped the people and the country as well. I believe the virus is a blessing in disguise.
TOLUWANI ADEGOKE (PRIMARY 5)
- Many technological inventions have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic especially in the developing countries. For example we now have made-in-Nigeria ventilators and fumigators.
- Secondly: there seems to be a deeper interest in local herbs and new researches are beginning to spring up in the field of traditional medicine. For instance, COVID organics from Madagascar.
JOLAJESU OYEDELE (PRIMARY 2)
- COVID has made people to be more conscious of their health.
- COVID has made people to be more conscious of their environment.
- It has led to the healing of the ozone layer.
- It has brought us closer to our family.
- It has shown us what really matters in life: food, shelter and life.
- It has taught people that saving pays off. Now, people cannot go to work, they rely mostly on savings.
TOBILOBA ADISA (PRIMARY 4)
- The COVID-19 pandemic has made children and adults learn through other means apart from the classroom. People learn from the media through news, games and apps over the television, phones and laptops/desktop computers.
- Parents do not have to pay lesson teachers now because they are available to do so themselves. They also impart them with values and morals.
- Parents end up saving more money because they do not spend much money on aso-ebi every weekend anymore
GROUP B OPPOSING THE MOTION
ADEGOKE TONI (PRIMARY 5)
COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease which has spread into a pandemic. The expression “COVID-19 is a cloud with a silver lining” suggests that there is a better part of the pandemic and I dont think so because:
- A disease that has killed thousands and incapacitated millions can never be described as a cloud with silver lining.
- The entire world has gone into an economic recession. For example
Nigeria has had to borrow money from other countries to function.
- Many people have died from other diseases due to neglect and the total focus on COVID-19. There is still Lassa fever , malaria, depression and people still die from these diseases.
- Lots of resources have been thrown into curbing of this pandemic, yet an end is not in sight. Money for other purposes is now being diverted to COVID-19
- Lastly, COVID-19 has caused disunity among some nations, for example United States accusing China of culpability and vice versa. COVID-19 has almost put the whole world on standstill. How c can anyone then think that COVID-19 is a cloud lined with silver, far from It.
AKHERE,PRINCESS (PRIMARY 5)
- The Coronavirus has killed thousands and millions of people. People lost their lives & loved ones because of this dreadful disease. I would like my opponents to answer this question, “Would you like your loved ones dead? Certainly No! Why then would you say the Corona virus is a cloud with a silver lining?
- On AIT this morning on the Kakaaki Show, students were asked if they preferred learning online or at school. They all said school was the best.
- The negative effect of Corona is by far way more than the positive, causing Nigeria & the whole world into economic recession so bad that Donald Trump had to announce a state of emergency in America!.
ADEYEMI RACHEAL (PRIMARY 3)
- Restricted movement and territorial barriers- People could not move freely.
- 2-National hardship, our Economy come to a standstill. No contribution to the economy as people cannot work.
- Retrenchment/sack of workers in the private sector and percentage cut in salaries.
- Social life is paralyzed. No shows or social events like burials, weddings etc have been postponed indefinitely.
- The death rate is exceedingly high. Many people have died as a result of the Corona virus.
- Health; Hospitals only attends to emergency cases. Neglecting other health challenges that should be taken seriously.
- There is unending rivalry and dishonesty in the sharing of palliatives given to cushion the effect of the COVID-19.
ABULOYE LADUN (PRIMARY 2)
- Schools are closed. We are kidding ourselves with online schools. Where is the electricity? Where does data come from on empty tummies? Even our teachers can’t afford to keep up. Online and screens can never take the place of schools.
- Sporting activity to have been stopped. For example, the Tokyo Olympics which was supposed to hold July-August this year has been postponed till 2021.
Another example is our own Sunshine Nursery & Primary School Inter-House Sports which was cancelled. I was looking forward to participating in the March Past. Poor me!
CHIKE NJOKANMA (PRIMARY 3)
COVID -19 is a deadly infectious viral disease with no lining at all not to talk of a silver lining because:
- COVID-19 has brought an end to tourism worldwide and international and local travel has been restricted to essential services only.
- Nigeria is a favourite tourist destination for vacationers around the world and with this travel ban places like Yankari Games Reserve , Obudu Cattle Ranch, Olumo Rock, Ikogosi Warm Springs and our popular Osun Groove have been shut for the past two months. On the international scene the popular Disney world, the most famous family destination for vacation has also been affected. This means zero income generated and zero tax remitted to the government. Think of all the jobs that have been lost As a result of this.
- The United States of America has recorded the greatest unemployment rates ever in history , even worse than during the Great depression.
- Where is the silver bagas h linning in this dark cloud?
This disease that kills in a short time without a cure. How on earth can there be any good?
Be aware of this and STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY STAY SAFE!!!.
AYOOWURO BEJIDE (PRIMARY 4)
- COVID-19 has no cure, nor vaccine.
- People are not following the lockdown rules, the government too are not monitoring the border closures, and as such the disease keeps spreading.
- The lockdown has made people to have problems like heart diseases , blood clots an even mental problems because they have been forced to Stay in one place.
- The lockdown has caused family problems leading to husband and wives fighting, and children being abused, because of frustrations.