Lyna Mohamad
The awarding of scholarships of the 2023/2024 Brunei Darussalam-Singapore Youth, Scholarship Programme took place yesterday at Auditorium Hall, Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh presented the awards at the event organised by the Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Department of Scholarship Management.
Two St Andrew’s School students, Jaeden Chan Weijie and Adam Xavier bin Azlan/Markus, were awarded the scholarship programme to pursue their secondary level studies in Singapore commencing January 2023.
Senior Special Duties Officer at the Department of Scholarship Management Julaihi bin Mohamad/Mohamat as the ceremony’s chairman noted that the scholarship programme was one of the outcomes during the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office to Singapore last August. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the scholarship programme was signed by Ministers of Education of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore on August 24, 2022 during 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’s state visit to Singapore.
This programme is in line with the objective of the scholarship programme of strengthening the exchanges of youth and future leaders of both countries, which is a testament of the commitment of both His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Singapore in strengthening the relationship between the governments and people of both countries.
He added that the scholarship programme is a milestone on the increasing working relationship in the field of education between the two countries.
Although this is not the first for the Brunei government to send students to pursue their studies in Singapore, the newly established scholarship programme is co-funded by both governments as well as allowing bilateral exchanges of students of both countries through the programme.
Julaihi said the Ministry of Education of both countries worked tirelessly in fine tuning the scholarship programme, including the working visit by senior ministry officials from Brunei, led by the Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE to Singapore in September, culminating in the awarding ceremony.
As a start, Brunei’s MoE has agreed to send post-primary students to continue their secondary education in Singapore, selected among the best performing students in this year’s Primary School Assessment (PSR) and underwent selection processes ran by the Ministry of Education of both countries.
Only a small number of students were selected for the first cohort. However, it is hoped that the number will increase in the future with different education levels on offer through the programme.
“Similarly, we welcome the Singapore government sending their students to undertake studies in our public education institutions in the near future.”
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Kesyukuran, led by Mosque Affairs Officer Saufi bin Haji Suhaini, followed by the signing of agreement by the scholarship recipients.
Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah then presented the certificates to the scholarship recipients.
Also present were Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Acting Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the MoE Aliuddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, directors, officers of the MoE and the Singaporean High Commission in Brunei Darussalam and parents of recipients.
