BRUNEI-MUARA

FIVE per cent of the total number of government school students scored five straight A’s in the Primary School Assessment (PSR) examinations, the best performance over the last four years, the Minister of Education said yesterday.

A total of 203 students were awarded for their excellent results in a ceremony at the Jerudong Polo and Country Club yesterday.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar Hj Apong said there were significant improvements in the 2013 PSR exams, not only in terms of student achievements in getting 5 straight A’s but also an increase in the number of passes in all five subjects.

Fourteen primary schools achieved 100 percent passes in the PSR exams, while 56 primary schools achieved the 80 per cent national target.

“Several factors contributed to this improvement, including collaboration between departments through the F4S (Focused Subjects, Students, Schools and Society) programme,” he said.

“This is a positive indication of the schools’ leadership and teachers’ efforts, commitment and initiatives in education,” he added.

The minister hoped the improvements will continue by focusing on quality teaching and learning programmes.

He added the programmes must be adapted according to the students’ needs and level of acceptance based on their intellectual background.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar said the ministry would like to see not only improvements in the quantity or percentage of passes, but also quality achievements that would determine the future of the nation in meeting the National Vision 2035.

The ministry is targeting A and B grades in all subjects for all students, the minister said.

“To realise these goals, we must plan our long-term plans with a strategic approach. I am confident that quality students come from their exposure to ‘impact-oriented’ programmes,” he added.

The minister also reminded parents and guardians to be prepared to change the perceptions of the role of education.

“Education is not just a platform for employment. The main thing is that education is the main platform to explore the knowledge and skills to realise Brunei’s National Vision 2035,” he said.

During the ceremony, the students received plaques, certificates as well as cash that will be deposited into their Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) accounts.

The awards went to 128 students from Brunei-Muara, 36 students from Tutong, 26 from Belait and 13 from Temburong.

The event also saw the presentation of awards to 45 pupils from Year One to Year Five who excelled in their 2013 final year examinations for government school students. They were awarded with certificates, plaques as well as contributions from BIBD and Standard Chartered Bank.

The Brunei Times