The school’s first Model United Nations (Model UN) Conference took place just before the Easter break giving pupils the opportunity to represent UN member states and debate real-world issues.
The 35 boys and six Bedford Girls’ School pupils, who make up the Model UN Society, attended the event, which started with a whistle-stop tour of Model UN terminology, followed by a run through of how a Model UN conference is structured. The United Nations is a global body of almost 200 countries who work together to solve issues relevant to modern day society. These range from topics such as war, access to education, human rights issues and the environment. Model UN is an opportunity for young people to replicate the UN, by representing the positions of different countries around the world in order to produce a resolution/solution to global issues.
After learning the fundamentals, the pupils engaged in a more proactive session; a mock debate about flag design, which saw Fifth Former Finn Adams delivering a mesmerising opening speech about why flag designs should not be changed. Fourth Former Aryan Sohanpal then retaliated, admirably, against Finn’s point and, despite being the youngest member of the society, went on to win Best Delegate.
Model UN events provide pupils with an exciting opportunity to play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real-world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. In doing so, they develop research skills, improve their knowledge of current global issues and gain vital presentation and public speaking skills.
Fifth Former Tanay Rai, who chaired the debate, explained, “The boys enjoyed writing and adapting their resolutions and their eagle-eyed nature really showed, with some boys changing their resolutions multiple times.”
The next Model UN Conference will be hosted by Bedford Girls’ School on 16 June, with pupils invited from schools around Bedfordshire. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the Model UN Society to showcase their academic talents and learn from some of the best delegates in the region.
If you are interested in joining Model UN, please contact Ms Rattab.
