Brainstorming For Better English
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Fifty headmasters and assistant headmasters from nationwide P~P met for a brainstorming session on the strengthening of the teaching and learning of English at primary school or RELA programme at the Curriculum Development Department at Jalan Haji Basir, Pusar Ulak in the capital yesterday.

The meeting began with a speech from Ak Abdullah bin Pg Haji Tengah, Acting Deputy Head of the Special Education Unit, Ministry of Education, who represented Haji Matassan Bin Haji Bungso, Acting Director of the Curriculum Development Department.

He called on facilitators and English teachers to apply the RELA teaching techniques in the teaching and learning of the English language.

A research conducted in 2006 showed that less than 50 per cent of the English teachers in the country used the RELA teaching techniques in full.

"The research also showed that equipment such as "Big Book", "Book Flood", "Headphones" and "Junction Box" are not enough and teachers feel that a special room is needed.

The Curriculum Development Department will continue to look for alternatives to fortify the teaching and learning of the English language not only at primary level but also at higher levels.

On the role of headmasters, he said they are instructional leaders who play a very important role in assisting teachers in their professional development. With proactive cooperation such as this will reduce the dependency of schools on the ministry.

A briefing on the RELA programme was held after the speech. The RELA programme is a teaching and learning technique of English language at primary school level that was introduced in 1989 to 12 primary schools in the country.

The other purpose of the meeting was to announce the use of primary English books for Brunei Darussalam. The event will continue on February 12 and 13. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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