Rokiah Mahmud
The Religious Teachers’ University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) yesterday launched the Brunei Darussalam National Arabic Language Conference 1442H/2020 (Mu’tamar Bahasa Arab Kebangsaan Negara Brunei Darussalam), as a platform for enhancing further cooperation in the teaching of the Arabic Language.
Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang was the guest of honour.
The mu’tamar was jointly organised by KUPU SB with Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and the International Rabitah of Al-Azhar Brunei Darussalam Alumni.
Director of the Language Centre at KUPU SB Dr Abang Haji Hadzmin bin Haji Abang Taha, in his capacity as chairman of the organising committee, said that the mu’tamar was one of the efforts to uphold the titah of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during an unscheduled visit on January 22, where the monarch urged relevant agencies to focus on developing beneficial knowledge in the country, particularly Arabic language programmes.
He also cited another titah from September 16, where His Majesty again called for the evaluation of all teachers, including their methods of teaching and training, in order to provide excellent Arabic language instruction.
The launch was followed by congratulatory video messages from Egypt, Oman, Thailand
and Indonesia.
Short videos by students of KUPU SB, for an Arabic Language competition, were also showcased.
The guest of honour then handed out prizes to the winners of the KUPU SB Arabic language video presentation, as well as certificates of appreciation to participants of the Nadwah Mubarak.
Later, a session was held with a focus on the developments of Arabic language instruction at local institutions in 2020 such as the promotion of interest in the Arabic language, the establishment of collaboration between institutions; and the sharing of research findings on Arabic Language programmes in Brunei.
Among the institutions participating in the mu’tamar were UNISSA, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and the Curriculum Development Department at the Ministry of Education (MoE), as well as the Mosque Affairs Department, the Islamic Studies Department, the Examination Section, the Inspectorate Division and the Curriculum Section of the MoRA.