Rokiah Mahmud
Within the period of 50 years of Brunei Technical Education, several milestones have been reached including the establishment of Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) in 1991.
“Among the important roles being carried out by this council is to provide certification and accreditation of local technical and vocational qualifications by replacing previously issued certifications such as the City & Guilds and Business and Technical Education Council (BTEC),” Director of Technical Education Dr Haji Mohd Zamri bin Haji Sabli said during Institute of Brunei Technical Education’s (IBTE) 50th Golden Jubilee of Brunei Technical Education celebration at the An-Naura Hall of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin was the guest of honour.
Dr Haji Mohd Zamri said the Brunei Technical Education has been in operation since its first intake in September 1971 with the establishment of two technical institutions – Building Trade School in Jalan Muara (later known as Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College) and the Engineering Trade School (later known as Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering).
“Another significant milestone also was the setting up of the Department of Technical Education (DTE) in 1993. On this note, towards the effort to increase capacity and capability in accommodating more students taking various types of programmes as well as technical and vocational training, a number of institutions have been set up, including Mechanical Training Centre in 1986, Nakhoda Ragam Vocational School in 1992, Sultan Bolkiah Vocational School in 1996, Business School in (2005) and Wasan Vocational School in 2006.
“Meanwhile, various efforts were carried out and planned to improve the quality of technical education in the country to create a more developed and organised learning system, based on industrial needs while producing highly competent students,” Dr Haji Mohd Zamri added.
During the Israk Mikraj celebration in 2014, 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 consented for the establishment of IBTE in 2014 taking over the function of the DTE and institutions under it.
“The establishment of IBTE as a technical education is a statutory body of institution post-secondary and as continuity in seeing the progress and development of a nation in the field of various technical knowledge and vocational skills,” Dr Haji Mohd Zamri said.
“During the 50 years of its establishment, IBTE has made achievements locally and internationally, such as the technical education system led by IBTE, recognised as access provider for quality TVET programmes and served as medium to produce holistic, balanced and entrepreneurship characteristics students in par with the needs of workforce in the Sultanate.”
Meanwhile, former Deputy Permanent Secretary of Higher Education and former Director of Technical Education Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Daud bin Haji Mahmud said, “Technical and vocational education have completed the national education system.
This is important to ensure no student will be left out in national education.”
He expressed hopes that the Ministry of Education (MoE) will provide multiple pathways, flexible and competitive schemes for technical instructors. “This could ensure the quality and skills of these instructors and leaders in the technical and vocational education at its highest level,” Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Daud said, adding that, “I hope that the MoE will invest in further developing building infrastructure for technical and vocational education which is more encouraging and state-of-the-art, in line with its training development progress”.
Thirdly, he hoped that the ministry will enhance cooperation and relations between employees and industry in implementing training programmes relevant with the current development of industry and technology, so technical education can produce graduates that are more knowledgeable, skilful and having earning positive attitudes in entrepreneurship and employment.
Meanwhile, the ceremony featured the launch of IBTE’s new website by the guest of honour and a presentation of tokens of appreciation to 10 former directors and former directors of Brunei Technical Education.
The event concluded with the guest of honour touring the exhibition that showcased Brunei Technical Education’s history and achievements, which was later upgraded to IBTE.
