Azlan Othman
Around 787 new students will start Year 5 studies at Arabic schools across the country this year, said Head of Arabic Schools at the Islamic Studies Department Pengiran Mohd Aminuddin bin Pengiran Haji Hussain during the enrolment of new students at the Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Arabic Preparatory School in the Brunei-Muara District yesterday.
Out of the 787 students, 355 have enrolled at the BSB Arabic Preparatory School, 293 at Rimba Arabic School, 89 at Ma’had Islam Brunei in Tutong District, 35 at the Belait Arabic School, and 14 at the Temburong Preparatory Arabic School.
Pengiran Mohd Aminuddin said, in last year’s Primary School Assessment (PSR), around 317 or 39.77 per cent of students from Arabic schools scored five A’s.
“A total of 97.37 per cent scored grades A to C in last year’s PSR. Such a momentum can be sustained through initiatives that are based on the Religious Education Institute’s strategic plan, such as maintaining the school leadership programme.
“In the past three years, the students who scored grades A to C for their PSR exceeded 95 per cent.”
The day was joined by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang were also present.
The minister toured classrooms and facilities such as the surau and dining hall, before proceeding for a closed-door dialogue with school administrators and teachers.
Meanwhile, Principal of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School (SUAMPRIPAD) Sarimah binti Haji Ahmad said, “Around 355 new students enrolled this year, compared to 324 in 2020. The total number of students in Year 5 and Year 6 is 677.
“The students at our school will benefit from the growing number of classrooms, the new hall facilities and the hostel which can accommodate up to 32 occupants.
“The new students are undergoing a course to gain experience on how to cope with life at an Arabic school.”
Since March 30, 2020, students of the BSB Arabic Preparatory School were placed at the SUAMPRIPAD building, to address the increasing number of new admissions.
The building was previously used by students of SUAMPRIPAD, who have moved to a new location at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Hajah Anak Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School in Kampong Katok.
The school currently provides 30 classrooms in three blocks, along with teachers’ offices. The school building is also equipped with a multi-purpose hall, a surau that can accommodate up to 400 congregants, a VIP foyer and visitors’ lounge, a meeting room, an ICT room, a library and a canteen.