Radio Television Brunei

Starting this year, courses for the Brunei-Cambridge 'N' Level will be abolished and the Secondary Vocational Program is to be introduced next month. Students who sat for the PMB or Lower Secondary Assessment Level 2 examination, will be channeled to the vocational level. The main focus of the program is to provide and channel the students to courses in par with their capability and skills.

In a briefing on the Secondary Vocational Program Tuesday, the Assistant Director of Curriculum Development, Awangku Abdullah bin Pengiran Haji Tengah said the program aims to equip students with the concept, knowledge, skills and basic training needed in their daily routine. At the same time, it is hoped that the program will provide students with basic skills in vocational and technical training aspects. At the end of the program, successful students will be certified with the Brunei Darussalam Technical Vocational Education Certificate and National Vocational Certificate in Clerical Studies.

Twelve schools have been chosen as centres or zones for the program. Seven in the Brunei Muara District, three in Tutong, One in Belait and another in Temburong. The program hopes to upgrade the literacy skills of the students, offering practical subjects and activities of hands-on experience able to be followed by the students based on their capability, providing computer skills in parallel with the vocational and technical education and getting skills out of actual working experience through industrial placement. The briefing was held at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al Quran Institute.

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Their Majesties attend Princess’ convocation ceremony

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha have consented to attend the convocation ceremony of their Majesties' daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah, who has completed her Masters of Arts course in Environment Development at King's College, University of London. Her Royal Highness took the course from September 2003 to September 2004. The convocation ceremony took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London. His Royal Royal Highness Prince Haji Al Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Abdul Azim; His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah. Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bulqiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah as well as other members of the royal family were also at the convocation. More than six hundred graduates of King's College received their degrees which were presented by the Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Richard Trainor. After the convocation, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam and other members of the royal family consented to attend a reception ceremony. Among those present were Baroness Rawlings, Chairman of the Advisory Council of King's College and other officers.

His Majesty conveys congratulatory wishes to Australia and India
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has expressed his satisfaction with the warm and friendly relations and deep understanding that have so long been established between Brunei Darussalam and Australia. His Majesty hopes that this would be maintained and enhanced in the future for the good of the two countries and people. This was contained in His Majesty's congratulatory messages to the Governor-General of Australia His Excellency, Major-General Michael Jeffrey, and the Prime Minister of Australia the Honourable John Howard on the occasion of Australia Day. In the messages His Majesty also hopes that both His Excellency Major General Micheal Jeffrey and the Honourable John Howard would always remain in good health and happiness and for the people of Australia to always enjoy continued progress and prosperity. Meanwhile, His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has expressed his satisfaction with the warm and friendly relations and deep understanding that have so long been established between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of India. His Majesty hopes that this would be maintained and enhanced in the future for the good of the two countries and people. This was contained in His Majesty's messages of congratulation to the President of the Republic of India His Excellency A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of India. In the messages, His Majesty also hopes that both His Excellency A.P.J Abdul Kalam and His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh would always remain in good health and happiness and for the people of the Republic of India to always enjoy continued progress and prosperity. Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also sent a congratulatory message to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia The Honourable Alexander Downer M.P., on the occasion of Australia Day. In his message, His Royal Highness expressed warm appreciation for the close friendship and cooperation enjoyed by the two countries. His Royal Highness is also looking forward to continuing work together in the coming year. His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also sent congratulatory messages to the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, His Excellency K. Natwar Singh, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of India. In the message, His Royal Highness noted that His Royal Highness greatly values the warm and friendly relations that exists between the two countries and looks forward to continuing work together to strengthen the relationship.

Brunei, Sarawak agree to clamp down on transborder crime
Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak agree to work closely in sharing information to combat transborder crimes, especially in areas of traffic and vehicle theft. The issue in enforcing traffic laws between the two countries is also an area of priority to be discussed. The Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abang Abdul Wahap bin Abang Haji Julai, who was in Brunei Darussalam for a one day visit, explained that the exchange of information between Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam could help in combating vehicle theft, which is a common problem between the two countries. Both sides are also concerned with the problem of enforcing traffic laws between Sarawak and Brunei. Yesterday Abang Abdul Wahap bin Abang Haji Julai also paid a courtesy call on the Brunei Commisioner of Police, Dato Paduka Seri Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Johan. Both sides held a bilateral meeting aimed at discussing proposals and exchanging ideas to combat and reduce crimes and traffic offences. Officers from the Investigation and Traffic Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force and the Land Transport Department were present.

Pilgrims return home after completing the Haj
The Haj Management Department has announced that Brunei Darussalam's Haj pilgrims will begin returning home today. Those under the package of the Humaira Travel Centre, Humaira 2, arrived at 3.55 this morning. Another group of pilgrims under the same package of the Travel Trade Agencies is scheduled to arrive tomorrow at 7.55 in the morning. Pilgrims under Darussalam Holdings will arrive on Friday 28th at 11.15 in the morning. The fourth flight under the Darussalam Holdings' package will arrive on Saturday 29th at 3.25 in the afternoon. The fifth flight under Darussalam Holdings, the Titian Travel and Tours and the HTH Travel Agency will arrive on Sunday 30th at 9.45 in the evening. The last flight of pilgrims under the Humaira Travel Centre will arrive home on the 8th of next month at 3.15 in the afternoon.

New Secondary Vocational Programme to replace ‘N’ Levels
Starting this year, courses for the Brunei-Cambridge 'N' Level will be abolished and the Secondary Vocational Program is to be introduced next month. Students who sat for the PMB or Lower Secondary Assessment Level 2 examination, will be channeled to the vocational level. The main focus of the program is to provide and channel the students to courses in par with their capability and skills. In a briefing on the Secondary Vocational Program Tuesday, the Assistant Director of Curriculum Development, Awangku Abdullah bin Pengiran Haji Tengah said the program aims to equip students with the concept, knowledge, skills and basic training needed in their daily routine. At the same time, it is hoped that the program will provide students with basic skills in vocational and technical training aspects. At the end of the program, successful students will be certified with the Brunei Darussalam Technical Vocational Education Certificate and National Vocational Certificate in Clerical Studies. Twelve schools have been chosen as centres or zones for the program. Seven in the Brunei Muara District, three in Tutong, One in Belait and another in Temburong. The program hopes to upgrade the literacy skills of the students, offering practical subjects and activities of hands-on experience able to be followed by the students based on their capability, providing computer skills in parallel with the vocational and technical education and getting skills out of actual working experience through industrial placement. The briefing was held at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al Quran Institute.
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