My eldest son has just started Year 7 at one of the government schools in the capital, transitioning from a private primary school.
It’s a financial relief knowing that I no longer have to spend extra on textbooks, and I am truly grateful to the government of 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, for the free provision of school books that significantly support children’s education.
However, I was rather baffled when my son brought home the stack of textbooks, as some were in a truly sorry state.
One book was missing its front cover, and another had its pages so frayed and tattered that it was barely readable. It made me reflect on my own school days, when we too received recycled books.
At that time, I never imagined that my children would face the same situation. We should certainly acknowledge and appreciate the privileges we enjoy when it comes to education.
However, to maintain the quality of these resources, I would like to suggest that inspections be carried out at the end of each school year to assess the condition of the books when returned.
Those students who fail to take proper care of the books could be required to pay a minimal fee – perhaps no more than BND5 for each damaged book.
This small contribution could be pooled to purchase new textbooks, and more importantly, it could serve as a valuable lesson in responsibility and accountability among the students.
Upset mum
