On Wednesday 17th of January, as part of the Literary and Historical Society’s Outreach Programme, 8 students from the secondary schools of St Kevins, Deansrath, and Collinstown Park have debated in UCD on the motion “This House Would always keep a friend’s secret”.

What the Outreach programme does, is send out UCD students to tutor in disadvantaged non-debating secondary schools and teach debating. This gives everyone an opportunity to learn the skills of critical thinking and public speaking, which can give these students confidence and encourage them to consider third level education.

This year’s Outreach Officers are Assia Buono and Ross Merriman, who have worked on the programme in the Clondalkin schools this semester. They are currently in contact with schools in Crumlin, to have another semester of UCD students who are interested in teaching such a valuable skill to others, and to learn it themselves!