PRIVATE SECTOR HAS A BIG ROLE TO PLAY IN EDUCATION (BB)

By Yusrin Junaidi

Fifty-five IGS College students received their certificates after successfully completing their Computer Studies as well as Business and Finance Studies at the Pre National Diploma and National Diploma during the 2nd convocation ceremony at the IGS College building in Kiulap yesterday evening.

The guest of honour who handed over the certificates was Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah bin Hj Abd Wahab, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The ceremony commenced with the recital of the Holy Quran by Awang Hj Mohd Zulfadli Shahnoel bin Muhd Noeh, one of the HNDC 08/02 students of the college.

The CEO and Principal of IGS College, Pengiran Hjh Fatimah binti PSJ Abdul Momin, in a speech said that eight students have received National Diploma in Computer Studies, 14 students National Diploma in Business and Finance, 29 students Pre National Diploma in Computer Studies and four students Pre National Diploma in Business and Finance. Three students received Excellence Awards.

She said, in addition we have created the HELP programme, which stands for "Holistic Excellence Leadership Programme" that emphasises on attendance, self discipline, attire, leadership skills and also competitiveness amongst the different academic groups to vie for the best student and best group award every month.

Pg Hjh Fatimah added that in addition to the new workplace demands, the IGS College is also facing the challenge of information technology (IT) in almost every facet of the working environment.

The guest of honour in his speech said, "We are very proud that 55 students have successfully completed their studies in either Computer Studies or Business and Finance Studies at the Pre National Diploma and National Diploma levels.

"I am very pleased that this college is living up to the dreams of its founder and in facing up to the challenges to provide quality education in response to the policy direction of His Majesty's Government to grow the private sector as the country strives to diversify the economy.

"There is no doubt that growing our private sector will require well trained businessmen and women who embrace innovation and the concept of continuous life long learning. This concept is clearly articulated in the government's education policy objectives in SPN-21," said Dato Hj Hamdillah.

In the Brunei context, the government is heavily entrusted in providing education to the people of Brunei Darussalam almost 'single-handedly' especially in the tertiary level. While this is not a problem as long as the country's revenue continues to allow educational funding to be provided, there could be a time in the future when such provision is no longer sustainable.

The Deputy Minister said, "We have anticipated this possibility and started JIS but we need to broaden it by making a long term plan and developing the capacity of the private sector to deliver quality education.

"This will require support and positive policy environment to allow the private sector to grow and be able to 'take over' partly some of the educational costs through some form of public-private partnership arrangements," he added.

In conclusion, the deputy minister summarised his personal viewpoint on the need to promote private education providers. Private education clearly plays an important role at many levels, second, the expansion of private education can bring many benefits to the government including reducing the financial burden as it encourages more innovation and relevance and increased efficiency in delivery and finally, the overall objective of the government must be to create an enabling environment for the private sector growth.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

DEVELOP PRIVATE SECTOR FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (BT)

IN LIGHT of the benefits the expansion of private education can bring to governments, the overall objective of governments must be to create an enabling environment for private sector growth, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab.

Speaking at the second convocation of the International Graduate Studies (IGS) College on March 9, the deputy minister said that the expansion of private education can bring many benefits to governments, including reducing the government's financial burden as it "encourages more innovation and relevance and increased efficiency in delivery".

While the country's revenue continues to allow educational funding to be provided even in the tertiary level, there could be a time in the future when such a provision is no longer sustainable, said the deputy minister.

"We need to broaden it by making long-term plans and developing the capacity of the private sector to deliver quality education," said Dato Hj Hamdillah.

"This will require support and positive policy environment to allow the private sector to grow and be able to 'take over' partly some of the educational costs through some form of public-private partnership arrangements," said the deputy minister.

He added that the opportunity to do so may be now at the time of the SPN21 (New Education System of the 21st Century) implementation.

In achieving this, Dato Hj Hamdillah said: "Regulation of private education must seek to ensure high quality delivery, while at the same time encouraging investment."

Some 55 students received their Pre-National Diploma (PND) and National Diploma (ND) certificates in their respective courses during the convocation, handed by the deputy minister.

"We are now seeing a rise in the number of students undertaking several courses in the college. Active participation in Brunei's drive to diversify its economy is vital. Private involvement helps increase the level of financial resources committed to the education sector such as the private financing of infrastructure."

In conclusion to his speech, the deputy minister congratulated the students on their achievements.

In her speech, IGS principal Pg Hjh Fatimah PSJ PHA Momin, chairman of the IGS Board of Directors, said that the college is gearing itself towards new challenges, requirements and national expectations in higher education.

Senior government officials and members of the IGS Board of Directors were also present at the graduating ceremony.

Graduate of ND Muhammad Zulhilmi Hj Zaidin said that he has future plans for the private sector. "I want make full use of my skills and knowledge with computer studies to contribute in the development of Brunei's Information Communication Technology (ICT)."

Another ND graduate, Ak Umarali Pg Hj Md Ariffin said that he wishes to work for government agencies so that he can one day pursue web designing. "We live in the era of ICT, everyone uses the Internet to read and write information, I want to be responsible for creating websites," said the ND graduate.

The Brunei Times

IGS HOLDS SPORTS DAY FOR STUDENTS (BT)

by Bahrum Ali

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDIES (IGS) college yesterday organised first Sports Day for the students, five years after its inception.

Speaking to the Brunei Times, Atique Ur Rehman, IGS college lecturer and marketing officer, said that, this activity was aimed at relaxing the students who have a very hectic learning schedule in the college.

"College offers various type of courses namely; Pre-National Diploma, National Diploma and the programmes offered here are accredited by Brunei Darussalam Accreditation Council, Ministry of Education (MOE)," he said.

This activity would also foster the relationship among students, he said.

They were divided in four teams namely; Blue, Green, Red and Yellow.

"This activity would also help students in their study as physical fitness is key to mental fitness and alertness," said Atique.

Mahorhafizah Md Zaini, IGS student, was of the view that the activity was a good effort by the college as emphasis should not be placed on learning activity alone as the importance of keeping the body and mind healthy can not be ignored.

"This is the first time ever in my life participating this kind of athletic event and I found that it was not that tiring at all as all the accumulated stress in my head has gone out," said the 23-year-old student.

Another IGS student, Izzah Nazurah Hj Abd Rahman, from business management course, said that she felt proud to be one of the pioneer to participate in this first Sport Day event by the college.

She said that it was not about the winning, it was all about the effort of participating.

"We will never improve ourself if we never dare to try and take the challenge," said Izzah.

As an overall result, the first place was won by the Green team, followed by Red team. The Blue team bagged the third place. Present as the guest of honour to present the prizes were the college principal, Pg Hjh Fatimah Pg Setia Jaya Pg Abdul Momin.

Atique said the event will be conducted annually at the college.

The Brunei Times