| Azaraimy HH & Daniel Lim |
ARABIC schools in the country are setting the bar higher for its Primary School Assessment (PSR) examination performance target this year, stated the Director of Islamic Studies, Ustazah Hajijah binti Haji Moktal.
The department this year is targeting all its students to score grades A to C, or for Arabic schools to achieve a 100 per cent passing rate.
This seems to be a feasible goal as last year’s passing grade of A to C in PSR examinations at Arabic schools was an impressive 97 per cent.
The Director of Islamic Studies said this in a sideline interview with the Bulletin during Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs’ visit to Belait Arabic School yesterday.
In the interview she highlighted the study pathways of students in Arabic schools. She said Arabic schools in the country are capable of producing high-calibre students in both religious fields and general academia.
She said students in Arabic schools, just like in other schools, have the opportunity to study at prestigious universities overseas, if they meet the high requisites.
Students who achieve excellent results in their BGCE ‘O’ Level Examination and Brunei Religious Education Certificate (SPUB) will be offered a Special ‘A’ Level Scholarship Scheme to study at the prestigious Jerudong International School (JIS) for two years and then continue their studies in the United Kingdom in the field designated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
According to her, most of the students under the scheme had been bonded to be academicians and some were also bonded to be doctors in the medical field.
So far, three students are now studying in the medical field in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs taking a closer look at Science Class at Belait Arabic School. – AZARAIMY HH
Other students who were not selected for the scheme will continue their ‘A’ Level studies at the Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Boys Secondary School, which offers three streams, one of which is the Arabic stream – where students can choose either to go into Syariah, Usuluddin or Arabic Language fields and students will eventually sit for the Brunei Religious Education Higher Certificate (STPUB).
Students can also choose to go into the Science stream, where students will sit for BGCE ‘A’ Levels only and students can also choose to go both in the religious and science streams, where they will sit for both STPUB and BGCE ‘A’ Level exams.
Through this system, the Director of Islamic Studies believes that Arabic schools are able to produce students that are adept in both religion and science. She also said that the minister visits Arabic schools in the country to see each school’s early preparations.
“This shows how important the Arabic schools are to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and shows the close attention given to Arabic schools by the minister and his strong support towards students’ achievements in PSR, SPUB, STPUB, GCE ‘O’ Level and others,” she added.
To achieve the 100 per cent target stated above, the director said the Department of Religious Schools has placed various initiatives such as providing conducive and comfortable learning environments, closely monitoring teachers and their trainings and others.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Belait Arabic School, Hajah Noramalina binti Haji Mohd Ali, in an interview with the press highlighted the mission and vision statements of the school, which is to produce students that are well adept in both ‘Ukhrawi’ and ‘Duniawi’.
The principal said the school started to use the campus in 2013. It has classes from Year 5 to Year 8, and when they continue to Year 9, they will be sent to Kampong Katok Arabic Secondary School for female students and Mahad Islam Brunei, Tutong for the male students.
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