| Izah Azahari |
THE Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday hosted the Excellent Student Awards Ceremony 2017 at the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), with the joint collaboration of the Department of Schools, Department of Examination, Private Education Section and the Special Education Unit of the MoE, as well as the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jefriah, along with other members of the royal family, attended the event to witness one of her children, Nurul Amal Asfarina Hassanah Saffiyah Athirah, receiving an award for the Cambridge Outstanding Achievers Awards 2017.
On hand to present the awards was Minister of Education Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman.
Also in attendance was Deputy Minister of Education Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and a Doa Selamat led by Mohd Iqbal Hibatullah @ Hilal bin Mohd Rushidi, a Year 11 student from Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School.
This was followed by the recitation of selected verses from Al-Quran by Muhammad Amirul Husaini bin Moksin, also a Year 11 student from the Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School, who was champion of the Tilawah Al-Quran Competition at the Secondary School and College National Level.
The ceremony continued with a welcoming speech delivered by Acting Director General of Education at the MoE Hajah Anis Faudzulani binti Haji Dzulkiflee, in her capacity as the event chairperson.
In her speech, the Acting Director General of Education said that the annual awards ceremony is a form of recognition from the MoE, for the students’ academic achievements on a national and international level.
“The MoE is committed in its efforts to provide quality education for the development of outstanding students and manpower with the energy, quality and highly-skilled values in achieving the goals of Brunei Vision 2035,” she added.
The event continued with a brief speech by Ng Kim Huat, the Country Director, Southeast Asia and Pacific Cambridge International Examinations Regional Director representative, which was followed by the awards presentation ceremony.
A total of 265 students received 298 awards for excellence, with 25 in the top ranking for the Primary School Assessment (PSR) among government and private schools.
Six students received awards for the Pearson BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate, while 25 achieved excellence in their GCE ‘O’ Level (Ordinary Level)/IGCSE, and 91 were awarded for the GCE ‘A’ Level (Advanced Level) and International Baccalaureate (IB). A total of 88 students also received the Cambridge Outstanding Achievers Award (COAA) in the GCE ‘A’ Level, GCE ‘AS’ Level, and GCE ‘O’ Level, with several them among the Top 10 both locally and internationally.
Also among the award categories were the Special Awards, presented to five students; and the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Awards, awarded to four of the top students for their excellent results in PSR, GCE ‘O’ Level, GCE ‘A’ Level and IB.
Coming from various government and private primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and sixth form centres, the students each received a trophy, certificate of appreciation, cash prize and a prize sponsored by BIBD.
Recipients of the COAA received a trophy, certificate of appreciation and a special prize from the Department of Examination and the CIE Board.