PS: Polish your English – to tell the story short
By Laila Rahman

Hj Sheikh Adanan, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, giving the first prize in Category B to Dyg Maisarah Khairunnisa, at the short story prize competition organised by CfBT Education Services and Standard Chartered Bank. Looking on is Mr Hans Theilkuhl (left), CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, looks on. Pic: Rudolf Portillo

As a nation, it goes without saying that if we want to be an important global player, we have to make a conscious effort at improving proficiency in English.

This was noted by Hj Sheikh Adanan bin Hj Sheikh Mohammad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education as the guest of honour at the short story prize competition organised by CfBT Education Services and Standard Chartered Bank. The prize presentation took place at the Indera Kayangan Ballroom, Empire Hotel. This is the sixth year of the competition.

Also present at the auspicious ceremony was Mr Hans Theilkuhl, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank. He said: 'We believe the ability to write accurately, as well as imagination and originality are all vital in equipping young people with the skills necessary for Brunei to thrive in the future'.

In spite of the various efforts of the Ministry of Education to improve English Language teaching since the implementation of the bilingual policy in 1985, it seems that more can and must be done. He explained that the Ministry of Education itself has recently set up task forces to look into student performance in subjects which did not attain over 50% credit passes in the 2002 PMB Examinations, and English is one of these subjects.

He commented that in view of performance in English Language examinations so far, it is important that they continue to work together and strive for more effective ways to improve the young people's proficiency in the English Language, which can also be translated into commendable improvement in examination results.

The aim of the competition was to prove the opportunity for young Bruneians to give expression to their creative writing talents. Students write a short story between 300 and 2000 words in length on any topic they choose. Stories submitted cover a wide range of subjects, the common factor being all that all stories are original pieces of fiction.

This year there were over 1,350 entries received. There were three age categories such as Category A for primary students aged between 8 and 11, category B for secondary students between ages of 11 and 14 and Category C for secondary students between 15 and 18 years.

Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College won the School of the Year Award.

In Category A, first place went to Muhammad Hamdi bin Hj Awang Bujang from Tungku Primary School who wrote a story entitled "Adil and Adha" and received a certificate and a $400 Standard Chartered Bank account. In second place was Mark Edward Chia Wei Ming from St Andrew's School who wrote "My Life" and who received a certificate and a $300 bank account. Third place went to Nurul Atiqah bte Shamir from Jerudong International School who wrote a story entitled "The Mysterious Pencil." She received a $200 account.

All winners received certificates and given Standard Chartered Bank accounts with varying sums.

In Category B, first place went to Dayang Maisarah Khairunnisa bte Abdul Halim from PJN Pg Hj Abu Bakar Secondary School, Kuala Belait (story entitled "The Boy and the Dragonling") He got a $500 account. In second place was Song Vuina from St Andrew's School (story entitled "The Act of Love") who won a $400 account. Third was Abdul Wafi bin Abd Lamit from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (story entitled "Victory"), receiving a $300 account.

First in Category C was Khairunnikmah bte Abu Hassan from Sultan Sharif Ali Secondary School (story: "A Ball's Mind") who won a $600 account. Second was Syaima Amalina bte Nokman from SMJA Secondary School (story: "Through untamed eyes"), winning a $500 account. Third place was Stephanie Liew Ching Ching from STPRI (story: "What a surprise!"). She received a $400 account.

Consolation prizes were also presented to other merit contestants. This year's judges included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the British Council, Universiti Brunei Darussalam as well as CfBT.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin