Education In Brunei Making Progress Towards Excellence
By Aemy Azlena

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, reported the progress Brunei has made since it joined the organisation and also the country's response to some of the major initiatives, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Dakar Framework and Jomtien Declaration on Education for All, when he attended the 34th UNESCO General Conference in Paris from October 17 to October 22.

He led a delegation from Brunei Darussalam, comprising representatives from various ministries to take part in debate and discussion on education, culture, communication, environment, sustainability, higher education and science.

The General Conference is held once every two years in the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

This is the second time Brunei has participated as full member of the world body, whose responsibility is to promote world peace, eradicate poverty and help the development of member countries through its area of expertise, that is, education, science, communication, information and culture. On October 20, the minister delivered a statement to the general assembly of government ministers and representatives. He congratulated Singapore for rejoining the organisation, as well as the new membership of Montenegro.

Among Brunei's responses are: building a knowledge society, an effort that UNESCO has been encouraging all countries to comply with, through quality education and a renewal of education systems with a review of our national education system and working towards implementing a new system by 2009.

This system will be broad-based, provide multi-pathways for our children to further and higher education, and should enable all learners to reach their full potential with skills to survive in a fast-changing world.

The government of Brunei Darussalam has and will continue to build more primary, secondary and vocational schools. It has also introduced free compulsory education of nine years for all children in government schools within an inclusive education system.

This would include assistance for children from lower-income families. However, the majority of our children are given the opportunity to complete at least 12 years of education.

He also reported the establishment of a Brunei UNESCO National Commission on May 28, whose role, among other things, is to advise the government of Brunei Darussalam on all matters relating to policies and programmes of the UNESCO; to encourage and promote the active participation of Brunei Darussalam's governmental and non-governmental organisations, private sector and individuals in programmes and activities of UNESCO; to cooperate with other National Commissions for UNESCO of other Member States; and to participate in activities related to the advancement of knowledge and to foster understanding in related matters; to implement national programmes and activities; to disseminate information on the objectives and functions of UNESCO to Brunei Darussalam communities; and to support and assist in activities of UNESCO at national and international levels.

He also stressed the need to work closely with UNESCO, other agencies and organisations that have greater resources and experience in reaching our goals for Brunei Darussalam.

At the conference, the minister also joined in the ministerial roundtable discussions on the role of education in the sustainable economic development, held bilateral meeting with Singapore as well as separate meetings between regional groupings with UNESCO to enhance cooperation between organisations, such as ISESCOUNESCO and SEAMEO-UNESCO.

The delegation also visited UNESCO-IIEP in Paris to look at how Brunei can tap the institute's expertise in improving the Ministry's capacity in planning, evaluation and monitoring of its education system. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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