| Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
A TOTAL of 764 graduates received their National Technical Education Certificates (NTec), Industrial Skill Qualifications (ISQ), BDTVEC Skill Certificates 2 and BDTVEC Skill Certificate 3, during the afternoon session of the 25th Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) convocation ceremony held at the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Brunei Darussalam yesterday.
Present to hand over the awards was Deputy Minister of Education Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar.
The Sunday Bulletin talked to two of the 12 IBTE Best Student Award recipients to find out what drove them to apply for their course in the first place, the challenges they faced, as well as their future plans with the knowledge they have gained.
Noora Ashikin binti Karia expressed her happiness at being awarded Best Student in ISQ in her Welder course, where she spent 12 months learning theory and doing practical work, followed by industrial attachment.
“My parents suggested that I apply for the course when they saw me doing some welding at home. It was a challenge for me as normally this field is dominated by men, and I had to do some heavy lifting,” she said.
She also shared that since completing her studies in 2016, she took the opportunity to become a freelance welder, carrying out welding and fabrication work producing barbecue grills and drying racks.
“My customers have given me very good feedback and this encourages me to better myself and to continue being an entrepreneur. My siblings would also join me when I’m doing my welding, acting as my assistants, and I would teach them the ins and outs of the craft.
“With this skill I am able to earn money in my own time and be my own boss,” she added.
Noora Ashikin said that she has received employment offers from companies, but still prefers doing her own business as she also considers what she does a hobby that she enjoys.
“I enjoy doing what I do and I love seeing the after product, it is from this where I can see the quality of my work,” she said.
Mohammad Hafizan bin Saidi, another graduate who received a Best Student Award in NTec in Crop and Livestock Production, is currently doing a Higher National Technical Education Ceritifcate (HNTec) in the same course.
During the interview, he shared that after nine years of service with the Royal Brunei Police Force, he decided to pursue his passion in agriculture and continued his studies at the IBTE Agro-Technology Campus.
“Most of the challenges in the course are from the fieldwork, where we had to monitor plantations and livestock while working on a student budget,” said Mohammad Hafizan.
“With knowledge in organic farming under my belt, I would like to in the future be among aspiring individuals in the country who harbour dreams of contributing to the country’s economy through cultivating organic produce.”
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