Bandar Seri Begawan - Scholarship applicants who do not come from Arabic Schools or any institutions outside the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) can be accepted for scholarships under the ministry provided they meet the requirements in place.

Those who studied in Arabic Schools have choices to sit for multiple examinations, including the GCE 'O' Level, GCE A Level, Religious Teaching Certificate, and Religious Teaching High Certificate. Candidates who excel in this field could also have the potential to succeed in other academic fields such as Science and Economics, and in turn, become eligible for scholarships with regard to these respective fields, and not strictly be bonded with religious studies.

This was stated by Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman to the Legislative Council yesterday in response to a question raised by Yang Berhormat Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Zasia binti Sirin, regarding whether or not the MoRA is open and would consider applicants who are not under MoRA controlled institutions.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal also enquired what efforts are being made by the MoRA towards motivating students to pursue their post-graduate studies.

YB Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad informed the council that during a titah delivered by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during his recent visit to Cairo, he discussed the topic of an increase in students' allowances during post-graduate studies.

"This will motivate the students to pursue their post-graduate studies."

"I would like to add that there is only one person who received a PhD from Al-Azhar University, and that person is Professor Dato Mahmud Haji Saedon bin Haji Awg Othman. It is not easy to obtain a PhD at Al-Azhar University.

"If special allowances are granted to these students who are brave enough to try pursuing their PhD studies in Al-Azhar University, it is reasonable to think it can be accomplished and more thought will be given to this in the future," YB Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad said.