| Izah Azahari |
THE Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Boys Secondary School emerged as champions of the ‘Tuturan Pelajar’ Competition 2017 after an absorbing finals yesterday at RTB’s headquarters in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The competition was organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau in cooperation with the Akli Unit of the Co-Curriculum Education Department under the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Radio Television Brunei (RTB) for sixth form students and Institute of Brunei Technical Education.
Present as guest of honour to hand over the prizes was Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, the Deputy Minister of Education.
The champions brought home with them $350, a champions’ trophy, individual trophies and certificates of participation after notching an overall score of 80.45 per cent. The runners up spot went to Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College – the team finished with a score of 73.64 per cent and won $300 cash, an accompanying trophy, individual trophies and certificates of participation.
Meanwhile, the title for ‘Best Panel’ went to Ahmad Ghadafi bin Abdul Nasir, while his teammate, Muhd Ruzaini bin Haji Rosli, received the title of ‘Best Chairman’.
The competition’s third-place went to Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School; the team won $250, an accompanying trophy, individual trophies and certificates of participation.
The finals began with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, followed by a welcoming speech from the event chairman, Haji Azis bin Haji Nayan, Acting Director of the Co-Curiculum Education Department under the MoE.
Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Boys Secondary School students during the finals of the ‘Tuturan Pelajar’ Competition 2017
The team from Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College during the finals. – PHOTOS: IZAH AZAHARI
Guest of honour Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, the Deputy Minister of Education, watching the competition
Ahmad Ghadafi bin Abdul Nasir receiving the ‘Best Panel’ trophy from the guest of honour
Muhd Ruzaini bin Haji Rosli receiving the ‘Best Chairman’ trophy
The team from Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School receiving their prizes
In his speech, the chairman explained that this year’s theme “Love Yourself” is centred on drug abuse, and 23 related topics have been prepared by the organisers for the schools to choose from; the aim is to get the participating school teams to peel through the issue from religious, economic, health and societal perspectives.
“The forum is an activity that acts as a facilitator to discuss and elaborate information, current issues, as well as major issues that are of concern to the community, on top of acting as a meeting of intellectuals to exchange thoughts and discuss current issues through two-way discussions between a chairperson and panel members witnessed by an audience to obtain answers towards problems,” the acting director said.
The guest of honour highlighted that one of the National Vision 2035’s objectives is to produce citizens who are knowledgeable, skilled and successful; to realise this, government and private agencies have their own roles and responsibilities to play, including the Ministry of Education. The ministry’s National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21) programme – which lists increasing the number of students with mastery of the Malay language among its primary aims – is one example of initiatives contributing to the realisation of the national vision.
The Deputy Minister of Education also said that one of the aspects of language proficiency that needs to be mastered by students is speaking skills along with listening, reading and writing skills, emphasising that listening and speaking skills are the most important basic aspects.
“Students who have mastered these aspects usually have the potential to dominate the other skills greatly, which will enable them to process and obtain information precisely, resulting in a more effective way of conveying their thoughts and emotions,” the deputy minister added.
A total of 10 schools participated in the first round of the competition held in May. The participating schools included Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, Rimba II Secondary School, Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre, Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Secondary School, Sultan Sharif Ali Secondary School, Tutong Sixth Form Centre and Sports School.
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