| Syazwani Hj Rosli |
OVER 300 school leaders from across primary, secondary and sixth form schools across Brunei attended the School Leaders Conference 2017 at Parkview Hotel in Jerudong.
The first-of-its-kind conference was organised by the Professional Development Bureau Brunei Darussalam School Leaders Council.
In his speech, Acting Minister of Education cum guest of honor Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar highlighted the serious measures taken by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to ensure all strategies – including programmes and initiatives introduced at all levels – yield significant and sustainable impact on the nation according to its needs.
He also discussed the implementation of the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21) which aims to equip students with knowledge and skills in facing challenges of this century. This falls in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 – to produce knowledgeable and highly-skilled citizens who will be able to assist in strengthening the economy, and improving the life quality of the people and the nation.
School leadership is an important aspect in ensuring the strategies are not missed and that all programmes and initiatives can be achieved, he said, adding that they need to improve their leadership approach.
The Transformational and Distributed Leadership is among the significant approaches to be practiced among school leaders.
“In my opinion, the role of the Brunei Darussalam School Leaders Council is important, acting as a platform to strengthen the capacity of school leaders. I believe this council has the strength and dynamic manpower source, although it is still new,” he said.
The theme ‘Sustaining and Aligning Education Initiatives of SPN21 towards Vision 2035,’ aims to address the importance for school leaders to understand the ministry’s aspirations and goals regarding the directions of all initiatives implemented up until today.
“I encourage participants of this conference to discuss in detail the strategic approaches to sustain and coordinate the SPN21 initiatives to be more progressive,” he said.
Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom highlighted three areas in his keynote address: Brunei Vision 2035 and Global Commitment in the Education Agenda of the Nation; Role of School Leaders in implementing SPN21; and the Islamic Leadership as a Core in the Success of School Leadership.
In the first part, the acting minister pointed out that over the 50 years of governance by 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, the education system has undergone evolution, transformation and improvements, such as having a quality, international standard education system that is characterised based on the nation’s philosophy, Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB).
Touching on the role of school leaders in implementing SPN21, he said, they should always be prepared in facing globalisation challenges, and be able to guide the younger generation to be resilient, proactive, competitive, systemic thinking quality and to become ‘future ready.’
“The development and implementation of the Brunei Darussalam School Leadership Standards is one of the main initiatives of the ministry in obtaining the national key performance indicators, in achieving the percentage of educational institutions at the minimum level of school standards.
“School leaders play an important role and have high responsibilities and accountability for the progress of the students and schools in particular, and in the direction of the success of the Brunei Vision 2035 in general,” he said.
He highlighted that Instructional Leadership as an important element that each school leader needs to practice to ensure the quality of teaching and learning.
In discussing Islamic Leadership as a Core in the Success of School Leadership, the acting minister stressed on the need for leadership to be based on Islamic teaching in line with the MIB philosophy.
The seminar presenters comprised school leaders identified to have their best practices or education initiatives sustained, and those who bring positively impact student learning. They will share their strategies in enhancing and sustaining the initiatives, and offer insights on aspects of monitoring, measurement, analysis, reviewing, aligning and timing.
By learning the right ingredients of the ‘how’ aspect of sustaining the initiatives, the multiplier effect can take place.
The event aims to equip school leaders with knowledge and skills in sustainability management of education initiatives and to provide them with insight on preparing a workable framework of initiatives to support excellent teaching and learning.
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