HM tours Arabic schools' facilities
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam listening to Ustazah Hjh Sarimah Hj Ahmad, the principal of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic School, as she briefs His Majesty on the school's facilities during the monarch's surprise visit yesterday. Picture: BT/Rudolf Portillo
BY WARDI BUNTAR
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - CONCERNS were raised on the conditions of Arabic schools along Jln Tutong by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during his surprise visit yesterday morning which may lead to the setting up of possible new education facilities to accommodate the rising number of students enrolled in the schools.
The monarch visited Hassanal BolkiahArabic Secondary School for Boys (SMALHB), the Raja IsteriPengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic School (SUAMPRIPAD) and Bandar Seri Begawan Arabic Preparatory School (SPABSB).
"The number of students have been rising and there were discussions during the visit about new buildings to be made," said Ustaz Matudin Hj Tahir, the deputy principal of academic at SUAMPRIPAD in an interview.
There is a "need for a new school", he added, especially with more students entering into the schools per year.
The BSB Arabic Preparatory School's Acting Senior Education Officer Pg Hasinol Zamri Pg Hj Piut affirmed that the student population in the Arabic schools is really increasing and that the "infrastructure needs to be upgraded".
Upon His Majesty's arrival at the schools, the students greeted the monarch with "Assalamu'alaikum,Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik".
His Majesty toured classrooms while classes were going on. His Majesty even asked one teacher atSMALHB to demonstrate a daily education lesson in Arabic language.
At SUAMPRIPAD, an education officer who wished to remain anonymous told The Brunei Times that she had the opportunity to talk about the "short comings of the school, overall the laboratory equipments" with His Majesty.
"The science departments were very poorly kept, the school is already 40 years old but nothing much has changed," said the teacher.
The education officer also reported that His Majesty was also concerned about what will happen to the students upon graduating.
"His Majesty mentioned that if they were 500 graduates, 200 will continue and where will the 300 go? We do have Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPU SB) and other such institutions but there are still concerns about the students going for higher education learning," said the teacher.
At SMALHB, another teacher stated that the monarch zeroed in on the laboratory facilities.
"His Majesty stresses that science is a practical subject and that the facilities is not yet suitable because there is a lack of safety," said the teacher who explained that the school does not have some proper safety facilities such as ventilation, gas chambers and a proper drainage system.
"It's just this year that we have new science equipment because last year when more students enrolled, when it comes to practical classes, we have to send the students to other schools to borrow equipment," continued the teacher.
If there was more than 15 students, then the school would have to hold at least two to three more practical classes, he added.
His Majesty also spent the morning inspecting the facilities and condition of the staffrooms and the school halls.
-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times
