Putting Brunei Into Top 10 Of World HD Index
By Hadi DP Mahmud

Bandar Seri Begawan - To put Brunei in the world's top 10 in the Human Development Index (HDI) by 2035 is a very tough aim for the government to achieve, a high ranking United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) official said yesterday.

In late January, the government unveiled its first longterm national development plan, Wawasan Brunei 2035, which amongst others, aims to raise the sultanate into the ranks of the top 10 nations in the world in terms of quality of life and GDP per capita by 2035.

To be in the top 10, the challenge for Brunei is to develop its human resources, particularly in the area of education, said Dr Richard Leete, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Respresentative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

While most children are enrolled in primary and secondary schools, tertiary enrolment amongst Bruneians remains low. According to 2001 statistics, there was almost 100 per cent enrollment in primary schools, more than 90 per cent in secondary schools and approximately 10 per cent in tertiary institutions.

One of the deciding factors in determining HDI rankings is the education measure, which also takes into account tertiary education, Dr Leete pointed out.

"If you compare Brunei to the top five countries in the world, in terms of the HDI, its in the area of education that its lagging. And that's gonna take a lot of time. Its a generation away, I agree, but its still gonna take a lot of time," he said.

While 2001 statistics show small differences in enrolment of boys and girls in primary and secondary schools, the figures contrast with large differences at the tertiary level, with an approximate ratio of 1.6 girls' enrolment to that of boys.

"They (the government) are already worried that boys are dropping out. So how are we going into the top 10 if we don't overcome that constraint? That is really where there has to be huge effort."

Economic diversification is another constraint that Brunei faces in achieving its aim, Dr Leete said.

"Its about getting the mindset of Bruneians to work within the private sector - that there is life beyond being a civil servant," he said.

"I think the government as someone said earlier, has this implicit social contract with the people. If there's unemployment, we'll take them - in an ever expanding public sector - which is offering wonderful conditions. And the private sector can never compete with those conditions."

If the terms are so much more conducive in the public sector than they are in the private sector, there is very little incentive for Bruneians to join the private sector, said Dr Leete, adding that the problem "has to be overcome".

Dr Leete, who has extensive knowledge of Asia having spent most of his working life in the region, said that Brunei faces a "great challenge", in placing itself amongst the world's top ten.

"Not only have you got to overtake 20 countries, you've also got to consider those countries who are just behind you, with similar aspirations, so its like being in a race, a marathon. And you've got to continuously be on the move."

"Even with huge effort, what I'm saying is, you've got the Qatars coming up. Remember that Qatar is 37th at the moment. Its not in the top 10, but its moving like an express train."

The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and enrolment at the primary, secondary and tertiary level) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

The index is not in any sense a comprehensive measure of human development but more a broadened prism for viewing human progress. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with