| Aziz Idris |
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 visited several schools in the capital yesterday as part of efforts to enhance quality education in the country.
Shortly after the presentation of house keys to 860 individuals in a ceremony at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas, the ruler, along with his entourage comprising Cabinet Ministers and government officials, visited Pusar Ulak Primary School and Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) Secondary School and made an unscheduled stop at the nearby Raja Isteri Fatimah Primary School.
His Majesty was greeted by cheering children in a show of love and loyalty towards the monarch at the schools where the ruler spent most of the morning observing several classrooms and taking a closer look at students’ learning a variety of skills from computer literacy to English language, physical exercise as well as arts and craft.
The monarch first visited Pusar Ulak Primary School which hosts some 270 students from Pre-school to Year 6. The school strives to mould ethical, life-long learners equipped with skills to make a positive contribution to the nation.
According to Headmaster Colm Mcdermott, the school is one of the first to implement the new ‘School-Based Assessment System’ as well as ‘Guided Reading’ which is now widely used in primary schools across the country.
“We have worked closely with other (primary) schools, especially in Cluster 1, to exchange ideas and ensure these initiatives are also implemented in their respective schools,” he added.
The school is separated into two main building blocks; the old building, which was built in 1965 and the new building which was built five decades later in 2015.
Currently, the school has 276 students with over 37 teachers and 10 support staff. In 2017, over 60 per cent of Primary School Assessment students achieved grade A-D.
His Majesty then visited his former school, SMJA Secondary School where the monarch toured the classrooms and mingled with the students and teachers as well as former students.
The monarch observed various activities carried out by the students. SMJA Secondary School is one of the top sports achievers in the country, winning several championships in major sporting events.
According to Acting Principal Nor’izzah binti Haji Othman, the school won top prizes in the recent futsal and football inter-school championships. The school has also managed to revive the game of basketball and has recently shifted its focus to creative arts and design, a popular subject among secondary students.
SMJA Secondary School is also one of the oldest government schools in the country and was built in the 1950s.
The school experienced a tragedy where its old building was run down by a fire back in 1992. The school was rebuilt in 1994, and celebrated its golden jubilee in 2001.
The school at present has 995 students from Year 7 to Year 11 in 48 classes as well as 110 teachers and staff.
His Majesty and entourage then decided to walk across the street to Raja Isteri Fatimah Primary School, much to the surprise of students, teachers and parents alike.
During the brief visit, eager students lined up the gates to greet the benevolent ruler as he walked towards the school entrance. There, the ruler mingled with the children and teachers, reminding them of the importance of education in building the future of the nation.
The school’s Headmistress Siti Norbayu binti Haji Samid, expressed appreciation to His Majesty for the visit.
“For the students, it’s the fulfilment of a dream to get close with their much-beloved monarch. On behalf of the school, we like to wish His Majesty good health and pray for the monarch’s continued rule to achieve success and happiness for the country,” the headmistress noted.
Currently, the school has over 160 students, 28 teachers and eight supporting staff. In the afternoon, the school also hosts religious studies for students.
The visits to the schools further highlight the monarch’s keen interest in the progress of the country’s education system. It also reflected the ruler’s concern and care towards providing quality education for the country’s citizens.