BRUNEI-MUARA

OVER 200 students from religious schools across the Sultanate were awarded for their academic excellence in 2014 by the Islamic Education Department (JPI) yesterday.

The Minister of Religious Affairs Yang Berhormat Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman presented certificates and cash prizes to the 243 award recipients from secondary and primary religious schools in a ceremony held at the Bridex Hall in Jerudong.

Of the total, three students received the overall excellence awards, two for highest achievement and six for best in their respective streams, while the remaining 232 students received awards for best achievements in public examinations.

In her opening remarks, the Acting Director of Islamic Education Hjh Rusita Hj Yahya said that the annual event was aimed to give recognition to students’ academic excellence and their hard work.

“This is as incentives to award recipients as well as motivating other students to achieve and attain better results in their academic performance,” she said.

She added that the event was also to give appreciation to parents and guardians on their support and encouragement to ensure their children’s success.

“This is to also inform the public on the academic achievements of students from Arabic and religious schools in the fields of religion/Arabic and science,” the director said.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, Dk Nur Syadiah Hafizah Pg Hj Hasan, a recipient for best achievement in public examination, said that self-study and paying full attention during lessons helped her in her studies.

“I prepared a roster to study early (prior to the examination) and did exercises or tests as if it was like in the real exams,” said the 18-year-old who hoped to enrol into the Al-Azhar University in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Nur Izyan Farhan Awang Mohd, an Arabic language student from the Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Secondary School for Boys (SMALHB), said one needs to control the urge of accessing social media during revision.

“I only access (social networking sites) only when I am done with my revision,” she said, adding that she is currently waiting for scholarship application results.

The Brunei Times