Senior officer Dina Roslina binti Haji Aliuddin from the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education looked back on her 24 years of service after receiving the Long Service Medal (KL) award in a ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Department of Councils of State yesterday.
“I taught history for nine years at Menglait Secondary School from 2000 to 2009,” she said, adding, “It has always been a passion and ambition of mine to be a teacher and I was very happy when I was accepted to be one.”
She was then moved to different departments throughout the years, including monitoring and implementation of SPN21 and strategic enterprise performance and delivery.
“From 2018 to 2022, I served the minister. And now I am at the Higher Education Department,” she said.
She added, “I was at my happiest point of my life when I was at school because I was with the children and could see their achievements.
“Whenever I meet my students from 24 years ago wherever they work, I am very proud and happy for them.”
She also thanked 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 and the ministry for awarding the medal and recognising her contributions and work.
She added, “I feel appreciated and happy to have served the ministry over 24 years.
“I have been given a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth and I hope to continue to contribute to the country and the community.”
She also gave advice to teachers: “Teaching is about passion. You will only excel if you have passion serving the children for the betterment of the country.”
Meanwhile, another medal recipient Haji Raminey bin Haji Salleh said, “I would like to express my gratitude to Allah the Almighty and junjung kasih to His Majesty for the gift of the long service medal.”
Haji Raminey said his career in the ministry began in 2001 when he was assigned to teach at Sufri Bolkiah Secondary School in Tutong District, before being moved to Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School until 2006.
In 2007, he was appointed to be an Education Attaché in London, United Kingdom for three and a half years.
When his tour of duty ended, he was placed in the Scholarship Management Department now holding the position of scholarship and welfare senior officer.
Reflecting on his career, he said, “There were indeed bitter and sweet experiences which have motivated me to work harder to contribute to achieving Brunei Vision 2035.”
In a message to teachers, he said, “You are who determine the direction of the students and future leaders in the Sultanate.
“Because of this, the nation and the people hope that you can shape the students with the best pattern based on the creed of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy.” – James Kon
