The 34th Teacher’s Day theme ‘Quality Teachers Drivers of Educational Transformation’ underscores the government’s commitment to continuously improving and transforming the education system.
Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh said this during the 34th Teacher’s Day celebration at the International Convention Centre, Berakas yesterday.
The minister highlighted ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in upholding the theme for the third consecutive year.
Among the initiatives mentioned was the implementation of the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programme at all levels of education. She also noted the introduction of a guidebook to assist primary schools in adopting project-based and inquiry-based learning approaches, as well as the introduction of technology, engineering and arts as core elective subjects at the upper secondary level which began this year.
“Furthermore, the MoE launched the Digital Citizenship Framework to educate students on the ethical and responsible use of technology,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the higher education sector, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has published a Policy and Guidelines on Generative Artificial Intelligence, which will serve as a reference for other educational institutions.
In another milestone, the integration of religious studies into the general education system is progressing, with the development of a permanent curriculum for Islamic education.
Professional development programmes are also being conducted to enhance teachers’ pedagogical skills and develop innovative teaching techniques.
Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah also noted the successful implementation of the Compulsory Education Act in January, mandating school attendance for children aged five and above.
As a result, 6,092 five-year-old students have been enrolled in both government and private schools.
The minister also said the Sultanate’s participation in the 2022 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) also showed significant improvement in reading, mathematics and science, compared to the 2018 results, attributed to teachers’ hard work and parents’ support.
In sports and technological innovation, she said the MoE is committed to developing students’ talents, as demonstrated by the record number of participants in the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2024 and achieving “international recognition”. The event concluded with the presentation of the Teacher’s Day Awards, honouring the dedication of educators across the country. – Fadley Faisal
