Scholarships Increase Annually
By Debbie Too

Bandar Seri Begawan - The number of students qualifying for government scholarships to study abroad has increased in the past two years. According to the Scholarship Department, there has been an increase in the number of students qualifying for scholarships. In 2004, the Ministry of Education sent 200 students overseas for further studies, whilst between 2005 and 2006; the number has gone over 300.

"We have no fixed quota as to how many students we're allowed to send overseas, it is just

a matter of merit, qualifying for further studies," said Hj Kassim Hj Ibrahim, the Acting Assistant Director of the ministry's Scholarship Department.

"An average family spends an estimated $60,000 per year to send their child to UK for higher studies," he said.

"The government can help parents by supporting them financially to lessen their burden," he added.

"We see this as a future investment because when a student completes their studies they bring knowledge and expertise to help the country's economic development."

The students are given living allowance, tuition fee, air fare and after completion of their course, they are often absorbed into government ministries.

Engineering and medicine are the most popular courses.

The government provides a number of scholarships, such as the Shell Scholarship Programme and the Economic Planning and Development Scholarship.

"The majority of students go to UK, but we also send students to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Singapore and US," said Hj Kassim.

The education ministry identifies programmes on the basis of priority and then students are selected on this basis.

He also said there have been instances where students fail to live up to expectations and removed from their course. But in Brunei's case, such occurrences are rare. "If a student fails to clear a semester or year, they are entitled a second chance, but this chance is given after a thorough review of their case.

"If it is due to illness or other reasons, they are given a second chance. But if it is lack of attention to studies they will be removed from the programme." -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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