| Azlan Othman |
THE number of students obtaining Mumtaz (excellent) results for their Brunei Religious Education of Higher Certificate (STPUB) in 2018 has increased by 2.3 per cent, compared to 2017, while those obtaining Jayyid Jiddan (very good) rose to 4.83 per cent (91 students), said Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic Secondary School (SMALHB) Principal Ustazah Hajah Sarimah binti Haji Ahmad.
She made these comments at the school’s 25th Convocation Ceremony for 298 graduating students who passed their STPUB Examination and BC-GCE ‘A’ Level at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas yesterday.
The guest of honour was Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
The number of those obtaining Jayyid (good) increased by as much as 4.29 per cent (47 students) compared to the previous year, while those scoring Maqbul (pass) was 1.07 per cent (12 students).
Meanwhile, the number of fails in 2018 showed a drop of 1.81 per cent (six students).
Out of the 269 students receiving their STPUB certificates yesterday, 117 were in the field of Syariah, 76 in the field of Usuluddin and 22 in the field of Lughah.
At the same time, 39 students successfully passed their BC-GCE ‘A’ Level, out of which 29 were for General 1 (academic only), and the remaining 10 for General 2 (studies in both Arabic and conventional streams).
Out of the 10 students in General 2, six obtained three ‘A’ levels, three obtained two ‘A’ levels and one attained one ‘A’ level.
Nine of those students scored Mumtaz for their STPUB, while one scored Jayyid Jidan.
Meanwhile, for General 1, 22 students obtained three ‘A’ levels, two received two ‘A’ level and one student achieved one ‘A’ level.
Ustazah Hajah Sarimah added that 27 students were offered scholarships in 2018. One received the Sultan’s Scholar to study in Egypt, 16 awarded by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to further their studies also in Egypt, two in the United Kingdom, four under a special ‘A’ Level scheme, one by BIDB Alaf to study in Malaysia and the remaining three to continue their studies at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).
During the ceremony, 10 students were selected to receive special awards in Leadership, Academic and Co-Curriculum, and Mumaarasah Al-Lughah Al Arabiah.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Rector of UNISSA Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Ra’es of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar, and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang.