| Azlan Othman |
THE government is making concerted efforts to enhance the education achievement of Arabic and religious schools in the country, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs said yesterday.
“Arabic and religious schools are also part of the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN 21) and the government is putting up efforts to make them a success through the Islamic Studies Department and the PENGGERAK Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Ministry of Education,” noted the minister.
Speaking on the sidelines of his working visit to Bandar Seri Begawan Arabic Preparatory School and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School yesterday, the minister highlighted the achievement of students from Arabic schools in major examinations “which exceeded the national target”.
Since 2015, there has been an annual increase in the number of students from Arabic schools that succeeded in getting scholarship to enrol at Jerudong International School (JIS), he pointed out.
“Twenty-five Arabic school students obtained the scholarship last year of which five are pursuing special scheme courses at JIS; 17 are doing Bachelor’s Degree courses, one is pursuing Master’s in Food Science and two students are undertaking PhD in Law and Economics.
“Arabic schools have achieved excellent results in major examinations. The number of students who attained five A’s at the Primary School Assessment (PSR) examination last year has exceeded the national target. A total of 187 students achieved five As, an increase compared to the year before although the percentage of student enrolment in Arabic schools has declined last year,” the minister said.
“More efforts are being made to enhance Arabic school students’ PSR achievement such as by identifying weaker students who scored C-E grades and improving their results.”
The minister noted that Arabic schools are highly relevant in this country as religious and conventional education systems work hand in hand at these schools.
Studies have found that the Arabic school education system is successful and capable of adapting to current trends.
The minister’s visit to Bandar Seri Begawan Arabic Preparatory School aimed at monitoring the enrolment of the new batch of Year 5 students.
At the school, the Minister of Religious Affairs and his entourage were welcomed by Hajijah binti Haji Moktal, Acting Director of Islamic Studies and Ustazah Sarimah binti Haji Ahmad, Headmistress of the school as well as teachers and staff.
The minister welcomed the new Year 5 students while touring their classes and held a dialogue session with the school administrators.
A total of 283 female students joined the BSB Arabic Preparatory School this year.
The school has 77 teachers and 665 students in Year 5 and Year 6.
BSB Arabic Preparatory School School which registered 100 per cent passing rate in last year’s PSR examination, has also made many achievements in several co-curricular activities.
It emerged champion in National Jawi Writing Competition and also came first in the memorising and understanding of selected Al-Quran verses contest for students aged 11 years.
The minister concluded his visit yesterday by touring the SUAMPRIPAD where he was welcomed by Ustazah Pengiran Hajah Radiah binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Tahir, the Principal of SUAMPRIPAD as well as teachers and staff.
The minister toured the Year 5 classrooms and mingled with the students. The school saw 222 male students join Year 5 this year. In terms of curriculum, the school achieved 99.1 per cent passing rate at the PSR examination, 86 per cent passing rate in the School Progress Exam and 83.3 per cent passing rate in the Brunei Religious Education Certificate (SPUB) exam.
The school also achieved success in co-curricular activities such as winning the Azutech Primary Art Competition 2017. It was runner-up in the final stage of Al-Quran Competition, runner-up in the Brunei Entrepreneurship Education Scheme (BEES), runner-up in the finals of the ‘Bertindak A Team’ competition and third place winner in the finals of the Dakwah song competition.
During the visit, the minister held a discussion with the administrators of the school which currently has 150 teachers and 1,581 male students.
This year saw 582 Year 5 students enrol in Arabic schools throughout the country of which 262 are boys and 320 are girls, a decline compared to last year which recorded a total of 835 students, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement.
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