BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

FOURTY Singaporean and Bruneian students have completed their leadership course at the Eighth Brunei-Singapore Students Leaders Adventure Camp (BSAC) 2014 closing ceremony at the Sports School in Berakas yesterday.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) in a statement said the student exchange camp is important to strengthen the Memorandum of Understanding made between Brunei’s MoE and Singapore’s Ministry of Education in 2006.

“With visits to environmental sites in Brunei, BSAC aims to instill a sense of responsibility to the participants to take care of the environment,” the statement read.

“It also exposes the Singaporean youths to the tradition and culture of the Bruneian people to mould stronger friendship between the two countries.”

In a joint speech, Singaporean participants Chong Boon Yong and Maxine Phoon expressed they have learnt much from a padi planting trip in Tutong two days ago.

“The camp’s been an eye-opener because we don’t get the chance to plant padi in Singapore and it reminded how important rice is why we must treasure our staple food,” he said.

“We’ve made good friends here and the friendship forge will be remembered for a long time. We hope that our Bruneian friends will remember us as much as we remember them.”

Following the speech, Acting Director of Schools Hj Abd Rahim Derus presented certificates to the students mostly aged 15 to 16 and their chaperones.

He also awarded those who emerged as the most cheerful, motivating and tidiest participants.

The Most Cheerful Male Camper went to Irwyn Heikal Ng Jun Quan while the Female category award was won by Vidya.

The Best Male Motivator went to Reece Lim Jun Li and the Female category award went to Gigi Goh Jya Jye.

The Best Room Award went to Nurhafizatul Nariyyah Hassan and Najiah Mohd Ariffin because they had the tidiest room, leaving no litter or shirts laid around in their room.

Hj Abd Rahim then presented a memorabilia to Cindy Ng, a Senior Specialist from Singapore’s Ministry of Education who likewise returned the gesture presenting her own memorabilia. Clad in radiant colourful traditional attires, the BSAC participants performed the traditional Bruneian dances they have trained for in the camp and watched a slideshow of pictures of the moments they had in the camp. The BSAC this year was the fourth hosted by Brunei and the ninth BSAC will be hosted by Singapore.

The Brunei Times