Student Entrepreneurship Development expo (SEDEx) launched nationwide

Bandar Seri Begawan - Local youths participating actively in entrepreneurship is still low especially in expertise and areas relating to high technology, said the Acting Minister of Education, Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yusoff bin Hj Ismail at the launching of the Student Entrepreneurship Development expo (SEDEx) to mark Teachers' Day 2012 and the Entrepreneurial Leadership for Educators Programme (ELEP) workshop at the Airport Mall yesterday.

Entrepreneurship has always been an important topic in the discussion at all levels. Hence, it should be explored with greater confidence and enhanced to a higher and excellent level especially in the productivity sector to assist in generating the socio-economic development of the sultanate.

In Islam too, it is also encouraged. It becomes a priority in the Syariah perspective and in the present world. Efforts to enhance the involvement and skills of local youths in entrepreneurship should be widened through activities and projects by relevant authorities in the public and private sector or through collaboration.

Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yusoff also noted several activities and projects that have been implemented to assist in encouraging young entrepreneurs such as the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) programme run jointly by the Ministry of Education and KEMUDA and also the Brunei Entrepreneurship Education Scheme (BEES) by Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd, Ministry of Education and Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

The consistent and comprehensive follow-up and scrutiny should be taken into consideration in line with the activities and projects. This is to acquire effectiveness and should not be merely based on theories or experiences from short-term course but also requires thorough planning and continuous strategic implementation.

Entrepreneurship is not easy to master especially for young people who are still new in this field and lack the entrepreneurship background. They will view this field as high risk, making them less confident and unwilling to engage actively. The acting minister highlighted that the project launched is timely in enhancing the spirit and willingness of students to progress in the field they followed and to improve their creativity thoughts and nurture a sense of appreciation and interest in the world of entrepreneurship.

It is also timely for us to view entrepreneurship in a more positive perspective as many who engage in this field view it as a side income and in smaller scale.

Hence clear understanding and transparency should be taken into account and viewed as a reliable source of income and in a bigger scale.

This will guarantee our future as indicated by successful entrepreneurs. Due consideration and appropriate assistance should be given by the parties involved.

The SEDEx expo is conducted nationwide from November 13 to 24 and showcases primary, secondary Year Twelve, private sector and technical and vocational students products. These include paintings, handicrafts, healthy food and inventions.

The expo at the Airport Mall is held for three days and will end this Thursday, November 15. It is open from 10am to 4pm today (Wednesday) and from 10am to 8pm tomorrow (Thursday).

Meanwhile in Tutong, the official launching will be held at Pasar Petani Hua Ho this Saturday November 17 at 8.30am and is open to the public from 10am to 8pm. In Temburong, it will be on Friday November 23 at the Bumiputera building in Bangar town on Friday from 9am-12 noon, 2pm-8pm and Saturday from 8am to 12 noon. In Belait, the opening will be on Saturday November 24 at 8.30am at Tudong Saji. It is open to the public from 10am to 8pm.