The Ministry of Education launched the BEST (Bantu, Empati, Sayangi, Tanggungjawab) Week Programme 2024 to address and prevent bullying, particularly cyberbullying, among students.
Director of Schools Hajah Marina Chek binti Bujang attended the event held at Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre’s multimedia theatre.
Acting Head of the Counselling Division Dr Hajah Nor Zaiham Midawati binti Haji Abdullah emphasised the programme’s focus on cyberbullying awareness. She highlighted the need for community cooperation to combat this issue within educational institutions and stressed the importance of teaching self-control and the potential dangers of online harassment.
Dr Hajah Nor Zaiham Midawati encouraged schools to organise activities like quizzes, infographics and video contests to promote cyberbullying prevention.
The BEST Week Programme aligns with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, Including Cyberbullying. This year’s programme included a forum titled ‘Buli Siber dari Perspektif Sivil dan Syariah’, which explored cyberbullying from both civil and Syariah perspectives.
Renowned speakers, including experts from the Islamic Studies Department, Royal Brunei Police Force, Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam and the Attorney General’s Chambers, participated in the forum. An awareness video clip and cyberbullying awareness posters were also presented to further emphasise the message.
The event was attended by heads of departments, senior officials, school leaders and students from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. – Fadley Faisal
