| Azlan Othman |
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 made an unscheduled visit to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School in Kampong Katok yesterday morning.
During the visit, the monarch held a two-hour-long closed-door session with over 50 teachers at the school’s conference room.
Also present at the session were Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office Haji Mohammed Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and senior officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
After the session, His Majesty mingled with the students of the Arabic school and posed for selfies on request by the teachers and students.
“We were having a Khatam Al-Quran at the school’s Surau when suddenly we were told to go to our classrooms. We were surprised to learn that our beloved ruler is at our school and we took our phones to capture the precious moments,” a student told the Bulletin.
At the school, the monarch took a closer look at the English hub located at the foyer of the building which showcases a number of English books for the students to read during free time.
The unscheduled visit, part of the continuous efforts by the monarch to ensure that all strategies and initiatives relating to education are effectively implemented in schools to the highest quality and are making positive impact on improving the quality of teaching and learning, provided an opportunity for His Majesty to observe the school’s activities first-hand.
Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School is a new project built at a cost of nearly BND47 million under the 10th National Development Plan of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Built on an eight-hectare site, the school is capable of accommodating 1,800 female students and a teaching workforce and administrative staff of 150.
It was established on January 3, 2018 at the start of new school term and the 1,300 Year 7 to Year 11 students came from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School.