Sixteen schools in the Ashanti Region are set to slug it out in the one-eighth stage of the Luv FM-Pepsodent High School debate.

The preliminary stage of the contest witnessed an exciting showcase of confidence and wits by young high school orators.

After an intense battle in debating prowess, the schools with superior arguments for or against motions scored high points from the judges to come tops.

Some of the motions debated in the preliminary stage were "Birth Control Should be Made Mandatory", "The Voting Age Should be Reduced to 16", " Formal Education is a Prerequisite to Success", and “National Service should not be made Mandatory."

At the end of the preliminary stage, 10 schools came out victorious. They include Adventist SHS, Oppon Memorial, Kumasi Anglican SHS, Osei Kyriekyie SHS, St. Hubert Seminary, Kumasi High School, Opoku Ware School, St. Louis, Konogo Odumase SHS and Osei Tutu SHS.

Two other schools with the highest losing points in the preliminary stage will be offered seats to join the 10 qualifying schools and four seeded schools in the round of 16. The seeded schools are reigning champions Prempeh College, T.I. Amass, Kumasi Asanteman SHS and Presec Bompata.

These debaters are expected to go into the Round of 16 from Friday, June 14 with heat to make their schools proud.