Botswana Oratory Championship

The Botswana Oratory Championship (BOC) will debut from the 7th to 12th December 2025 at the University of Botswana in Gaborone marking a historic milestone for the country’s oratory and debating landscape. This prestigious tournament will unite talented young minds from junior and senior schools across Botswana and the SADC region to compete in high-level debate and public speaking using the globally recognized World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC) format. The BOC will not only celebrate eloquence critical thinking and cross-cultural exchange but will also serve as the official selection tournament for Botswana’s Junior and Senior National Debate Teams who will represent the country at the 2026 World Schools Debate Championships in Nairobi Kenya. By creating such a competitive yet collaborative environment the championship seeks to inspire a generation of articulate leaders prepared to address pressing global and regional challenges with clarity empathy and conviction.

The event aligns strongly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Through its focus on equipping students with advanced communication research and analytical skills the BOC promotes inclusive and equitable access to quality educational opportunities (SDG 4). By encouraging discourse on governance human rights and conflict resolution in a respectful and fact-driven manner it advances peaceful and inclusive societies and fosters civic responsibility (SDG 16). Furthermore the tournament’s collaboration with international adjudicators schools and representatives from the World Schools Debate Council demonstrates a commitment to building meaningful partnerships that enhance global cooperation and learning exchange (SDG 17).