BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

A GROUP of six gifted students yesterday left for a regional Science camp in Indonesia, which aims to develop their abilities in research.

The students, who are under the Special Education Unit (UPK), are expected to share their ideas with their peers at the Fourth ASEAN Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey.

The students are from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, Belait’s Chung Hua Middle School, Jerudong International School and Chung Hwa Middle School in the capital.

Mona Aliana DP Hj Md Alimin, an education psychologist at the Special Education Unit, said the camp’s objectives include providing opportunities for gifted students to share experiences and foster creativity in the field of science and technology.

She said the annual camp will also provide students with the opportunity to foster friendship, while enhancing their networking skills in the ASEAN plus Three region.

Mona Aliana, who is also the unit’s head programme coordinator, said teachers will also be attending a separate programme to enhance their teaching skills.

“At the same time, the programme also aims to train teachers involved in education of the gifted in Science so they will able to provide a variety of educational content while also sharing their ideas in the teaching field,” she added.

One of the teachers who is heading the delegation in Indonesia, Rozi Suzanah Yatab, said the teaching programme will consist of various segments including a workshop, educational visits and a presentation on their last day, themed ‘Smart Approach in Science Education for Gifted Students in Your Country’.

“The students will be put in groups there where they will be able to mingle with students from other participating countries, and it can help them improve their communication skills,” said Rozi.

The students will take part in a mixed-nation team to make a group project with the theme ‘Biodiversity towards Innovative, Smart and Green Society’. The teams will participate in the poster competition where they are required to present their posters on Aidia racemose: Tea for Health and Curculigo Latifolia: A Natural Sweetener.

“They will also attend lectures for three days delivered by professors at a university there as well as doing experiments and research presentations,” said Rozi Suzanah, adding that participating students are aged 13 to 15.

“This is exposure for the students, as they can work together with others who are at the same (intelligence) level,” added Rozi.

The students underwent three weeks of training and preparation with their teammates at the UPK building.

As part of the nomination criteria, the students had to score 90 per cent or above in all subjects.

“These students had to go through some tests prepared by UPK and underwent many phases of interviews before they were shortlisted, they are not just any students but of great quality,” added Rozi Suzanah.

Lee Wan Sze, one of the student delegates from Chung Hwa Middle School said she hoped to contribute what she studied with her team members.

“We did a lot of practice and preparation beforehand in groups of two based on the given topic… We hope to present a good image of Brunei Darussalam, and of course to come back with something to be proud of,” said the 14-year-old.

The camp from August 24-29 will take place at the Centre for Science & Technology Research in Serpong, Tangerang.

The Brunei Times