Number Of Scholarship Applicants Growing
By Hadi DP Mahmud

Bandar Seri Begawan - The number of government scholarship applicants has quadrupled from 2001 to 2005 - a yearly increase of 164 applicants, according to the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC).

Some 207 students submitted applications for government scholarships in 2001, as compared to 863 applications processed by the BDNAC in 2005. The number will keep on growing, according to Dk Noraizan Pg Kamaludin, a BDNAC education officer.

"The increase in the number of applicants indicates the importance of disseminating information on university accreditations to the public.

The more choices of universities offered, the more people will be interested," she told The Brunei Times during the "Scholarship Open Day" held by the Ministry of Education at the International Convention Centre yesterday.

The guest of honour, Chairman of the Public Service Commission Dato Paduka Abdul Wahab Juned, said that it was "imperative for scholarship recipients to have the right perception and understanding of the significance of government scholarships".

"Scholarship recipients have an obligation to abide by the rules and agreements that are part of the scholarship package. If these rules are violated intentionally or deliberately, it would result in a breach of trust, and in some cases, would be seen as a betrayal to the nation's development, said Dato Paduka Abdul Wahab.

"For those who are selected for scholarship for their competency and academic excellence, they need to maintain this status with unfazed commitment for academic success," he added.

When it comes to excelling in studies, 21-year-old Sharifah Nur Hanani Malai Hamidon, a business and finance student at the vocational college in Seria, is confident she can deliver.

As one of the five students representing her college, she said "Bruneians often pursue careers in the public sector. I plan to opt for the private sector. Coming from a business and finance background, (I find) working in the private sector is more challenging, and requires us to be open-minded, learn ways to further develop ourselves." "I feel that working in the government sector is not stressful enough. In a business environment with foreign colleagues, they will challenge and demand more work from us, which is positive for national development."

A Brunei Shell scholarship recipient currently undergoing his engineering studies in Australia, Muhammad Majdi Shahruddin Jasni, 20, explained his decision to accept Shell's scholarship offer.

"Shell promotes the development of the nation, as it produces what has become the main source of the nation s income," he said.

More Bruneians need to venture into the private sector to help diversify the nation's economy, he added.

Scholarship seekers who have scored three Grade As in their A' Level exams and show strong interest in a military career may opt for the "Supreme Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces Scholarship", the most prestigious scholarship offered by the Mindef.

To date, six Bruneians have been offered the scholarship since 2005.

Captain Kamarul Amir Ariffin Dato Paduka Mohammad Suni from the Ministry of Defence's scholarship unit reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that students were sent "to the best universities in the world" and added "otherwise we (Mindef) wouldn't take them on board". -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with