EnrichmentList

7 Best Debate Classes in Singapore (2026)

Seven Singapore debate classes for kids and teens, from primary introductions to competition sparring, with what each provider says it teaches.

By: Amir Wahab
Edited by: Amir Wahab
Published: 7 Oct 2026
Reading time: 5 min read

Two teenage students debating at lecterns while a coach and classmates watch

Debate is a different skill from general public speaking: it asks students to build a case, anticipate the other side, rebut on the spot and work as part of a team. This page covers seven Singapore providers whose own websites publish a debate programme for children or teenagers, from introductory primary classes to competition-style sparring for secondary and junior college students. Several also teach public speaking, so if stage confidence is your main goal, see our public speaking and drama guides instead. Each entry describes the programme as the provider presents it. Intakes, levels and fees change, so confirm the current schedule directly before you enrol.

1. The Rhetoric Collective

The Rhetoric Collective is a debate and public speaking centre whose programmes page lists regular classes split by age. A Junior class is described for ages 9 to 12 and a Senior class for ages 13 to 17, with fundamental and advanced levels, the advanced class being devoted to sparring. The site says classes are held in person at its Maxwell and Siglap outlets, with up to eight students per trainer in the senior group, and teaches through lectures, graded exercises and individual feedback. It also lists personal coaching, holiday workshops and a free debate publication called Eh Priori. Enrolment starts with a short diagnostic session, according to its site. A good fit for a debate-first school with several age tracks.

Maxwell and Siglap
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2. Julia Gabriel Education

Julia Gabriel Education, the long-running speech and drama enrichment school, publishes a dedicated debating section on its website. Its Up for Debate! introductory programme is listed for children aged 10 to 12 in Primary 4 to 6 and runs over five sessions, using role play, presentation exercises, exploring issues and both formal and informal debates. The page says it covers structuring arguments, persuasive language and confident delivery, and names its director, Mark Gabriel, as programme trainer, describing his adjudication and tournament experience. Separately, the school says it has organised the Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships since 1999, which is an inter-school event rather than a class. Worth a look as a short first taste of formal debate for upper primary students.

Various centres islandwide
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3. RedDot Academy

RedDot Academy lists debate alongside speech and drama and public speaking in its course menu. Its debate page describes weekend classes for 7 to 12 year olds held at Agora Learning Centre at HarbourFront, aimed at critical thinking, communication and teamwork, and its course listing also shows ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 14 groups plus an intermediate class. The page introduces its coach, Natalie, as a debate educator who has coached students aged 10 to 19 in recreational and competitive debate. The debate page still refers to a 2024 start, so ask the academy which intake and timetable are current. Suited to younger primary students and families who like a smaller centre.

HarbourFront and East Coast
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4. Dialogic Academy

Dialogic Academy describes itself as a provider of debate, public speaking and journalism programmes for schools and private students, and says it began in 2018. For parents, its site lists two private online programmes for secondary and pre-university students, both taught over Zoom in two-hour sessions with a stated maximum of eight students. The Debate Accelerator is a weekly programme combining a content lecture, a skills spotlight, practice and personalised feedback. Sparring Sessions use impromptu motions and limited preparation time to mimic competition conditions. The site says materials are provided and names topic guides in areas such as politics, economics and psychology. Being online, it suits teens who want competition-style training without travelling.

Online (Zoom)
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5. Tuesday Academy

Tuesday Academy calls itself a debate studio for Singapore students and says it is run by debaters, for debaters. Its site lists four ways to train: short ala carte class blocks for newcomers or specific skills, longer term programmes that include a tournament each term, one-to-one coaching with coaches in junior, senior and founder tiers, and a debate clinic for case preparation during competition season. It says small classes are grouped by skill rather than age and that training is offered online and in person across Singapore. The site also advertises a free diagnostic session, described as one coached session with written feedback and a recommended plan. A sensible option for competitive teens or anyone who prefers a coach-led plan.

Online and in-person across Singapore
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6. MindSpeak Logic

MindSpeak Logic is a debate, oratory and drama coaching outfit that says it is marking ten years. Its debate programme, called Winning Arguments, is described on its site as an engaging class aimed at improving logical reasoning and critical thinking so students can deliver arguments with confidence. Alongside it sit ACE Communicator workshops for oratory and Art of Expression for drama, plus a logical reasoning strand. The site says its coaches have teaching qualifications and competitive debate backgrounds, and it lists a track record of school competition results as of 2024, which is the provider's own claim. It publishes no age bands or timetables, so enquire. A reasonable pick for families wanting debate paired with logic.

Suntec City
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7. Speech Academy Asia

Speech Academy Asia is best known for children's public speaking, and a March 2026 post on its site describes a Debate Training Programme for students representing their schools or preparing for school-based competitions. The post says sessions are interactive, using simulations, role plays and structured debate practice, with trainers giving immediate feedback, and it refers to a Debate Champion Master Class that runs across several modules. Its teaching is framed around its own B.E.S.T. communications model, covering body language, voice and speech content. The post gives no age bands or schedules, and the debate material appears in a blog article rather than a full programme page, so confirm details with the school. Convenient if you want debate at a chain with many branches.

Jurong (Jem) headquarters, plus branches islandwide
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How to choose

Match the level to your child. Primary students usually benefit from an introductory course that teaches how to build an argument and rebut politely, while secondary and junior college students may want sparring and tournament preparation. Ask each provider which class your child would join and how it describes the difference between beginner and advanced groups.
Check the format, class size and trainer. Debate relies on back-and-forth practice, so a small group with feedback after every round is usually more useful than a lecture. Ask who actually teaches, what experience the provider publishes for that person, and whether sessions run in person, online or both.
Decide whether you want a class or competition support. Some providers run regular weekly classes, others offer short courses, one-to-one coaching or case-preparation clinics for specific tournaments. Ask whether tournament entry is included, who handles registration, and how the provider supports students who simply want to learn without competing.
Look for a clear, current schedule. Intakes change each year, and a few pages still mention earlier start dates, so confirm the term dates, day and time, venue and any trial arrangements in writing. Ask what happens if your child misses a session, and whether materials, motions and written feedback are provided.
Be realistic about outcomes. Providers often publish champions, awards and testimonials, but those describe particular students and are the provider's own account. A better test is a trial or diagnostic session where you can watch your child's reaction, then compare how each provider explains progress and gives feedback.

Update history

Published 7 Oct 2026. No changes recorded since.

About the author

Amir Wahab

Founder and Editor

Amir Wahab is the founder and editor of LocalRank, an independent Singapore rankings and local guides publication.

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