| Azlan Othman |
TEACHING approaches and strategies at schools should be changed by giving emphasis to concept-based teaching, high order thinking skills and differentiated instruction that are in line with the goals outlined in the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21) to create highly-skilled people.
This was said by the Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji
Suyoi bin Haji Osman during the presentation of Excellence Awards to some 887 primary and secondary students from government and private schools, at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.
“The advancement in technology following the explosion of knowledge requires us to balance speed and development. Hence, students should possess and strengthen their technological skills effectively which could assist them in acquiring wide knowledge in this borderless world,” the minister said.
“Students’ ability should also be enhanced in the aspects of thinking critically, systematically, creatively as well as in interpersonal development and collaboration. With this, the students will be in high spirits to produce changes that equip them in facing challenges in life.
Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman presenting a prize to a student at an award ceremony at the International Convention Centre, Berakas. – AZLAN OTHMAN
“Based on these critical factors, we should act fast to make appropriate changes to fulfil these needs. In this context, our education curriculum should be able to meet these demands,” he added.
According to the minister, to make teaching approaches more effective, the Ministry of Education has brought in international coaches and foreign school leaders who have commendable skills in teaching and leadership.
“Implementing any changes requires that the efforts of the ministry should be welcomed by school authorities, especially teachers. And teachers should show willingness and cooperation to ensure that the impact of such changes produces maximum result.
“Today’s conventional teaching methods like ‘chalk and talk’, ‘rote-learning’ and ‘drilling’ are not appropriate and less effective in attracting students’ interest to learn according to their capability. Therefore, I wish to stress the need for ‘differentiated instruction’ approach to be implemented and strengthened to ensure that no students are left behind,” the minister added.
The award ceremony was organised by the Department of Schools, the Department of Examinations and the Private Institutions Section of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
The event acknowledged the excellent and outstanding achievements of primary students in the Primary School Assessment (PSR), secondary and sixth form students in their Pearson Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Level 2 Diploma, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Brunei-Cambridge GCE ‘O’, ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Levels held in October/November last year. The students were ranked Top in the World, Top 10 in the World, Top in Brunei Darussalam, High Achievement and Best Across in various academic fields.
The PSR 2016 award was presented to Year 6 students who achieved 5As in all the subjects. ‘Top in the World’ was awarded to those who gained the highest standard mark in the world for a single subject.
Top 10 in the World is defined as those who ranked 1st to 10th in the world based on standard marks scored in the exams in various subjects.
The Top in Brunei Darussalam award went to those who scored the highest standard marks in Brunei Darussalam.
The High Achievement award was presented to students who achieved the best standard mark while Best Across award was handed over to students who achieved the first, second and third cumulative total standard marks in Brunei over a range of seven, eight, nine Cambridge ‘O’ Levels; three to four Cambridge International ‘AS’ Levels; and three and four Cambridge International ‘A’ Levels.
A total of 887 students received their awards in the ceremony, of which 71 received the Cambridge Outstanding Achievers awards. They comprised 32 students in the ‘O’ Level, 25 students in ‘AS’ Level and 14 students in ‘A’ Level category.
In the Top in Brunei Darussalam award category, 27 students received the awards for their ‘O’ Level achievements in 23 subjects.
In the ‘AS’ Level exam, five recipients were ranked Top 10 in the World of which three recipients were awarded for General Paper (International), one for Sociology and another for Thinking Skills.
In the ‘AS’ Level category, 15 students received the Top in Brunei Darussalam award in 13 subjects. In the ‘A’ Level exam, only one received the Top 10 in the World award in Psychology. There were nine recipients for the Top in Brunei Darussalam award in ‘A’ Level exams in 11 subjects.
This year, two students from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah received the High Achievement awards in ‘O’ Level exam for Ulul Al-Quran (Brunei) and Tafsir Al-Quran (Brunei).
In the ‘AS’ Level exam, four students achieved the High Achievement award in four subjects, namely: Computer Science, Design and Technology, Literature in English and Physical Education, while in ‘A’ Level, only one student achieved this award – in Computer Science.
The post Need differentiated instruction to realise SPN21 goal: Minister appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.