A total of 103 students were awarded scholarships by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) as of 2022/2023 academic session. Of the figure, 36 completed their studies this year and 12 were newly awarded scholarship.
Director of Islamic Studies Department (JPI) Haji Shamsol bin Haji Omar revealed this as chairman of the organising committee for the Doa Kesyukuran held in conjunction with MoRA Scholarship Award for 2023/2024 academic session.
Haji Shamsol said the scholarships are significant in supporting the success of the Arabic and Tahfiz learning system. He said the students receiving scholarship need to achieve good results in Arabic public and general examinations as well as memorise Al-Quran.
The director said the scholarship allows top Arabic and Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah students to pursue their studies at higher levels locally and internationally.
Haji Shamsol said the selection process included a scholarship leadership assessment (SLA) implemented in collaboration with the Scholarship Division of the Department of Administration and Human Resources, Ministry of Defence. SLA emphasises on leadership qualities that every candidate should possess.
Apart from admission of students to Al-Azhar University in Egypt, JPI is collaborating with the Egyptian Centre for Development Students for Foreign Students on online Arabic Language courses.
To enhance the employability of these scholarship students, JPI will collaborate with other parties to provide additional skills which prepare them for the job market.
The Doa Kesyukuran at The Rizqun International Hotel saw Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman presenting certificates to the students. Of the 12 students, seven will pursue their Bachelor Degrees at higher learning institutions abroad including Egypt, Jordan, Australia and Malaysia while five will study at Jerudong International School. – Rokiah Mahmud
