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The fifth annual National Schools Moot Court Competition for senior learners (Grades 10 -11) in South Africa will take place between June and August 2015. This competition provides a unique opportunity for learners to develop their research, writing and oral advocacy skills as they endeavour to come to grips with some of the constitutional issues that are currently facing our country. |
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The Moot Court will be presented with the active participation of the of law faculties of various universities, the government (specifically the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Basic Education), the organised legal profession, the courts and the media. The Universities of Pretoria, Venda, Cape Town and Western Cape will take responsibility for preparing learners. |
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The language medium of this event will be English but participants will be allowed to use any of the official languages in the final round. All secondary schools in South Africa are invited to enter; a maximum of five teams per school may register. Each team will consist of two learners. A fictional (or "hypothetical") problem involving a constitutional issue(s) will be set. The first round will be in written form. Learners will be expected to write two short essays setting out the opposing sides of the case in a persuasive manner and based on the law of the Republic of South Africa. In order to assist all teams to have a fair opportunity in the competition, material on the South African Constitution will be made available on the internet and to schools in hard copy on request. |
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Nine teams from each of the nine provinces will be selected to send two learners and an educator to the provincial oral rounds that will take place in the provinces in May and June 2015. |
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The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will take responsibility for the provincial oral. This will take place in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court in June 2015. The four best teams from the Western Cape will then be invited to participate in the national oral rounds with teams from the other eight provinces, where they will argue against one another to determine the national winners. The national rounds will take place at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. |
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The WCED is also pleased to announce that a learner from the Overberg District, that participated in the national finals in 2014 has been nominated to be the programme director for the National Teachers Awards in Pretoria. |
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The WCED hereby invites all schools to participate in this exciting competition. Please complete the attached registration forms and send to the school enrichment coordinator in your district 15 April 2015 via email. List of email addresses attached. You may also send it to Dennis.Pillay@westerncape.gov.za. Please complete a separate registration form for each team. |
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Schools that register will be assisted through workshops and coaching by experts in the field. A number of prizes supporting the first year of the study of law at any South African university where they gain admission will be awarded to outstanding participants. For more information on the Moot Court Competition see www.up.ac.za/law or contact your school enrichment co-ordinator. |
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Kindly bring this minute to the attention of all Grade 10 teachers. |
SIGNED: J H LYNERS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: INSTITUTION DEVELOPMENT & CO-ORDINATION
DATE: 2015:03:11
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