SMOKING NOT A GOOD HABIT, MINISTER TELLS YOUNGSTERS (BT)

by Fitri Shahminan

NEW graduates and students at the International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) Brunei were reminded not to start the habit of smoking as the Ministry of Health has observed "more new smokers among the youth including students".

The reminder was articulated by Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman in his speech during the third convocation of IGS College last night.

Although no statistics were made available on the percentage of smokers among youth, the minister cited the recent findings from the Integrated Health Screening which disclosed that 14.7 per cent of civil servants were smokers.

"Smoking is a harmful habit that is not easy to give up once we are addicted to tobacco. So we advise students not to start the habit; it is not part of growing up," he said.

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi added that the general public were aware that smoking is a bad habit.

"Cancer is known to be among the top four chronic diseases that cause death, yet this does not deter people from smoking despite its close link to lung cancer," he added. The minister also said that upon graduation, some of the sutdents from IGS might join the nation's workforce.

He admitted that each new addition to the workforce would bring expectation that they would not only have relevant knowledge and skills, but also "the commitment and fortitude that would bring national development to another level".

"You all have the responsibility to contribute to the nation to the best of your ability and capability. You can no longer say it is not yet the time, because the time is now," he stressed.

In addition, Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi highlighted the need to have a healthy workforce.

Following the recent results from the Integrated Health Screening that showed 59.5 per cent out of 4,958 civil servants were overweight and obese, the minister called for Bruneians to be aware of the lurking danger of obesity.

"Obesity is a common risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and stroke," he said. The minister added that every effort must be taken to reduce obesity at an early age, particularly among students to avoid them from growing up into obese adults.

The Brunei Times

73 STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM IGS COLLEGE (BT)

A TOTAL of 73 students from the International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) Brunei are walking proud today after graduating in their respective courses at the third convocation of IGS College last night.

Eight students graduated from the Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance course and 11 from the National Diploma in the same course, while 19 graduated from the National Diploma in Computer Studies and 35 received certificate of Pre-National Diploma in Computer studies.

Best Student Award recipient, Dk Nazalita Nazerah Pg Razali, who graduated from the Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance, was very excited and proud of her personal achievement.

"I didn't expect to grab the award as there was strong competitions in my class," she said. The 22-year-old who plans to pursue her undergraduate studies in the UK, has already received offer letters from Kent University, Aston University and Keele University and is now awaiting for the Ministry of Education to award her with a scholarship.

She also aims to specialise in human resource management to help reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

"We have quite a significant number of unemployed graduates in the country. So I am looking to contribute in that area in the future (help solve the unemployment problem) if I become an expert in human resource management," she said.

Dk Nazalita also shared her idea to come up with solutions for unemployed people who do not possess strong educational background.

In her speech, she thanked the lecturers and the management of IGS College for "helping her to achieve her dream".

She appreciated the teaching methodologies adopted in the class including lectures, group discussion, debates, case studies and class presentations that helped her to develop the skills required in the present dynamic business environment.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Nur Fajrina Hj Ibrahim who graduated from the National Diploma in Computer Studies, acquired the invaluable skill of time management over her three-year course.

"I've never really faced a big challenge during my course, but I had difficulties in managing my (personal) time and balancing it out with my studies," she said, adding that she conducted a lot of group discussions and held study gatherings with her friends to overcome her challenge.

The former Rimba Secondary School student is due to sit for her International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at the end of this month in order to further her studies in Australia.

"I'm very excited and I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time," she said, speaking of her feelings before receiving her graduation award.

Izzah Nazurah Hj Abd Rahman, was another student who also expressed her excitement after having graduated from the National Diploma in Business and Finance.

Starting her three-year course in 2007, the 19-year-old could hardly believe that she reached her present level of education.

She shared that her biggest challenge was during the final project in which she had to deal with both the public and the government sectors through several business projects.

The business-minded graduate shared her ultimate dreams of starting her own company and become a successful local entrepreneur in the future.

Pg Hjh Fatimah PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin, Chief operating Officer (CEO) of IGS College, congratulated the graduating students in her welcoming address.

She highlighted the various programmes undertaken by the college to align with the Vision 2035 as well as the mission of the Education Ministry, which is to "Provide Holistic Education to Achieve Fullest Potential For All".

The CEO also shared that degree programmes could be available and offered in September upon approval by the Ministry of Education , following a recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology Malaysia.

On hand to present the awards to the winner was Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman.

The Brunei Times