Syazwani Hj Rosli
The Ministry of Education (MoE) is taking a holistic approach to build a comprehensive ecosystem for digital learning and stepping up efforts to provide enablers for this.
This was highlighted by Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh at the opening ceremony of Huawei Brunei Seeds for the Future at the Lecture Theatre 2 of the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Insitute of Health Sciences Extension Building of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.
Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah emphasised how COVID-19 affected the way people interact and work and how governments and businesses adapted to working remotely and integrating technologies to allow them to run their operation from virtual settings out of necessity.
“The same is true for the education sector as many countries closed their schools and embraced digital learning to curb the spread of coronavirus. The pandemic exposed the need to equip schools with the infrastructure and technologies, and provide teachers and students with the skills needed to adapt to a digital environment.
“Education systems are rethinking and accelerating plans for digital transformation. Inevitably, this ‘new normal’ will leave its mark on education,” said the deputy minister.
She also shared her gratitude to Huawei Technologies for bringing the Seeds for the Future programme online.
“There will be live-streamed engagement with well-known enterprises, key opinion leaders, and think tanks in China. Such exposure is indeed valuable and crucial to ensure students are up-to-date with the latest development in the ever-changing ICT industry,” said the deputy minister.
Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah also shared on the efforts undertaken by the MoE in stepping up its efforts to provide enablers for digital learning such as strengthening connectivity, upgrading of school network infrastructure and others.
At the same time, the ministry is also continuously working to develop the right human capital with the necessary skillsets and mindsets, she said.
“Vital to the success of our efforts is the continuous partnerships with stakeholders in technology, particularly Huawei Technologies who are at the forefront of the ICT industry, to value add to the ministry’s initiatives. As such, programmes like Seeds for the Future are crucial not only to pique students’ interest, but also in ensuring a sustainable ICT talent pool for the nation,” she said.
Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah called upon the students to take advantage of the opportunities the Seeds for the Future programme offers them.
“Be bold enough to take charge of your future and embrace your learning. We believe in you and we look forward to what you can show us in ensuring the future of our ICT industry in Brunei.”