this weekend.

More than 140 students, coaches, judges and observers from 16 countries have arrived on the Island for the Ninth World Schools' Debating Championships.

Four of the debates, including the final which will be televised on ZBM on Friday, will be open to the public.

Residents will be able to watch youngsters -- from Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, the US and Wales -- match their wits against local high school students.

Bermuda narrowly missed making the quarter finals in the championships last year in Sydney, Australia.

The Bermudian team -- which the Bermuda Debate Society is hoping will reach that goal this year -- was selected after the National Championships last November.

It comprises of joint captains Trevor Leitch of Saltus and Rashan Smith of Berkeley Institute. They will be joined by Eugene Johnston of Berkeley, Jennifer Rhind of Mount St. Agnes Academy, and Jordan Zancanella of Berkeley.

Warwick Academy teacher Gladstone Thompson will coach the team who tomorrow afternoon will square off with one of the world's top debating teams, Australia, on the topic "This House would expand the use of nuclear energy'' which also will be the topic of the final debate.

The final competition, to be chaired by Premier David Saul, will be held at St. Paul's Centennial Hall, beginning at 5 p.m.

The format of the debates will be a round robin of eight rounds, to be followed by four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final.

Tomorrow's rounds at Berkeley will consist of round one at 9 a.m. which has the topic "This House would support a mandatory retirement age''; at 12.30 p.m. there will be an unprepared debate; and at 3.30 p.m. will be the debate between Bermuda and Australia.

Early rounds -- which will be closed to the public -- will also be held at Whitney Institute on Monday and at Warwick Academy on Wednesday.

Berkeley, Bermuda High School for Girls, Saltus Grammar School, and Mount Saint Agnes Academy will host the quarter finals on Thursday while Bermuda College will be the location of the semi-finals. All of which will be closed to the public.

Governor Lord Waddington will present the prizes at the end of Friday's final.

The championships have been financially supported by local sponsors.

EDUCATION ED