This year's theme for Teacher's Day Celebration

Bandar Seri Begawan - For Brunei Darussalam, education is acknowledged as a foundation that underpins the progress of a nation, while the quality of teachers determines the development of any education system.

This is because quality teachers have the capability to nurture competent, virtuous, knowledgeable, spiritual, pious, critical, creative and innovative learners with the human capacity to face current and future challenges.

Through effective teaching. approaches, quality teachers are able to increase the capacity and inner strength of students so that they will become emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually balanced.

The use of thought-provoking questions in the course of teaching helps students to become more motivated and constructive as it gives them room to hone their thinking and decision-making capabilities.

In other words, the role of quality teachers is not merely to prepare students to pass their examinations, but also to equip them with a wide range of appropriate knowledge and skills in order to cope with the challenges of the globalised era, which they will encounter upon leaving the school environment.

As a key component in the formal education system, teachers must keep abreast of educational changes and developments, as well as the current demands of the global community.

Thus, every teacher should take proactive steps to enhance their professional knowledge and skills by constantly rising to challenges and staying alert towards current developments in education.

With this paradigm shift in thinking, teachers will endeavour to raise the quality of their service and the quality of teaching and learning to realise students' potential holistically so that students become explorers of knowledge, critical thinkers, creative problem solvers and innovative designers of technology.

Being earnest and responsible in carrying out one's work is vital because such attitudes shall contribute to the production of quality work.

The National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21) has clearly outlined the country's intention to produce students who are holistic and armed with multiple skills necessary to meet the challenges of the 2P' Century. Nevertheless, it has brought about a significant change in education.

Various dimensions of skills stipulated under SPN21 are aimed at developing the potential of every student in communication skills; literacy skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking); computational; scientific and ICT skills; problem-solving skills geared towards creative and innovative thinking; work and study skills; self-management and competitive skills (entrepreneurship); interaction and social skills; physical and aesthetic skills; and other 21st Century Digital Age Literacy skills.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education has embarked on numerous efforts and initiatives to produce quality teachers.

Among others, the Ministry of Education will continue to implement the newly introduced Teacher Service Scheme (SPG) and various courses, workshops and specific training for teachers.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, teachers are expected to be creative, innovative, full of initiatives and committed to serving the nation tirelessly for the sake of the students.

In this way teachers who are highly motivated, skilful, experienced and specialised in their own particular fields of knowledge will be able to enhance the process of teaching and learning to develop students' innovative capabilities and their potential so that they become independent learners.

Such skills will yield the value-added human capital that is vital for advancing and developing the economic growth of the nation, in line with Brunei Vision 2035.

'Quality Teachers Innovative Learners' is therefore a fitting theme, chosen at opportune time, for the 22nd Teacher's Day celebration.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin