| Hakim Hayat |
APPLICATIONS for the Technical and Vocational Education Scholarship Scheme (BPTV) for the academic session 2018-2019 at five local private education institutions are now open to eligible local students, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced yesterday.
The scholarship, offered by the Government of 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 is a scheme under the 11th National Development Plan which is envisaged to fulfil the increasing demand for technical and vocational education in the country.
Shedding more light on the scholarship’s application process in a press conference at the MoE Complex in Old Airport, Head of Scholarship Section Julaihi bin Mohamat said some of the objectives of the scheme is to provide the opportunity for local ‘O’ Level leavers to pursue higher education, enhance the skills, qualifications and marketability of locals and financially assist eligible students who have no ability to fund their education.
He added that the scheme is also in line with the country’s Vision 2035 that envisages the creation of highly educated and skilled citizens.
Applicants must be citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam who have concluded their ‘O’ Levels with three credits and below or an equivalent qualification; must fulfil the entry requirements in courses offered by the institutions and must not be employed in the government or private sector.
An estimated 150 scholarships are expected to be awarded in the academic year under the scheme and priority will be given to applicants who come from a less privileged family background.
The scholarship, offered for full-time study only, covers the full tuition costs including registration and examination fees for all offered courses and also includes a BND45 monthly transportation allowance for each scholarship recipient.
Julaihi further shared that five private higher education institutions have been selected to offer specific courses for the scheme. They are Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS) for its October 2018 intake and Laksamana College of Business (LCB), Micronet International College (MIC), Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology (CCCT) and Kemuda Institute (KI) – all for September 2018 intake.
Scholarships are available for KIGS’ courses in Certificate in Electronic Media Production and Certificate in Art and Design while for LCB, scholarships are available for its Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Business (QCF).
At MIC, scholarships are available for its courses Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Information Technology (QCF), NCC Education Level 3 Diploma in Computing (L3DC) and SQA National Certificate in Mobile Technology in Mobile Technology (SCQF Level 5).
At CCCT, scholarships are for its courses Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Information Technology (QCF), Pearson BTEC International Level 2 Certificate in Business (QCF), Pearson BTEC International Level 2 Certificate in Creative Media Production (QCF), Pearson BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma in Business, Pearson BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma in Digital Media (QCF) and Pearson BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma in Information Technology (QCF).
Meanwhile at KI, scholarships for courses Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Information Technology (QCF) and NCC Education Level 3 Diploma in Computing are on offer.
Students, especially ‘O’ Level candidates, who fulfil the criteria, are welcome to submit their applications. Applicants must first obtain offer letters from the respective private higher education institutions on their preferred courses.
The scholarship application form can be downloaded from www.moe.gov.bn.
The completed soft copy of the form should be emailed to scholarship@moe.gov.bn and the hardcopy must be submitted to the Scholarship Section, MoE, Block C, 5th Floor, MoE Complex in Old Airport. The closing date of applications is on July 31 at 4pm.
For more information on the application process, members of the public can refer to the Scholarship Section of MoE by visiting directly, or call 2380019, or through email scholarship@moe.gov.bn. To inform the availability of the BPTV scholarship scheme and to ensure that it will be utilised fully by the public, MoE will also hold roadshows in all four districts in the presence of representatives of all the five higher education institutions.
Those interested are encouraged to attend the roadshows to consult with MoE officers and representatives from the institutes and are urged to bring documents such as education certificates.
The roadshows will be held at the Bumiputera Complex Hall in the Temburong District on July 19, from 10am to noon; School of Aviation, IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus in the Brunei-Muara District on July 21, from 9am to 11.30am; IBTE Sultan Bolkiah Campus in the Belait District on July 23, from 8.30am to 11am and Tutong Sixth Form Centre in the Tutong District the same day from 2pm to 4pm.
Also present at the press conference were Head of Private Education Section at the MoE Hajah Noridah binti Abdullah and Executive Secretary at the Secretariat of the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council at the MoE Rosimah Sumaimah binti Haji Matassim.