Bandar Seri Begawan - With Teacher‘s Day merely days away, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (Unissa) jointly held a tahlil ceremony at the Royal Mausoleum in Jalan Tutong.
The ceremony was held, to commemorate the contributions made by Al-Marhum Sultan Hj Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa‘adul Khairi Waddien towards the development of the country‘s education system.
The late sultan, whose birth date, September 23, has been declared Teacher‘s Day since 1990.
Present at the tahlil ceremony was the Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Dato Dr Hi Abdul Rahman Dato Setia Hj Mohamed Taib, the Deputy Minister, who is also the Rector of Unissa, Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abdul Rahman, the Permanent Secretary, Dato Paduka Hj Sheikh Adnan Sheikh Mohammad, UBD vice-chancellor, Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman, and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Hj Ishaaq Hj Abdullah. Also present were the ministry‘s directors and senior officers, principals, deputy principals and teachers from government and primary schools, as well as lecturers from UBD and Unissa.
Leading the tahlil was Hj Sammali Hj Adam from the Co-curriculum Department of the Ministry of Education.
During the Al-Marhum‘s 17-year reign as the 28th sultan of Brunei, the education system was significantly expanded with primary and secondary schools built nationwide to ensure that all citizens could attend formal schooling;‘ food free scheme was introduced where schoolchildren were given free food and drinks, and scholarships were provided to enable students to further their education abroad.
In 1953, the late Sultan introduced the first national development plan in 1953 with an allocation of $100 million.
Among the plan‘s objectives included providing basic education to all the four districts.
Several educational institutions in Brunei were named after the Al-Marhum namely the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College; the Seri Begawan Religious Teachers‘ University College; the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Institute of Islamic studies of Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College.
Teacher‘s Day is when the country honours and acknowledges the contributions and sacrifices made by teachers to the community, nation and religion. To respect the holy month of Ramadhan, the highlight of the nationwide Teacher‘s Day celebrations this year has been postponed until October 27, 2007. It will take place at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
In the meantime the Royal Brunei Police Force also held similar ceremony for the late parents of His Majesty‘s, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa‘adul Khairi Waddien and Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit at the Royal Mausoleum, yesterday.
The delegation was headed by Pehin Datu Kerma Setia Dato Paduka Seri Zainuddin Jalani, the Commissioner of Police. More than 300 personnel from the force attended the ceremony which was conducted in conjunction with the holy month of Ramadhan and as part of the series of events which is held annually by the RBPF.
Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien is fondly referred by Bruneians as the "Architect of Modern Brunei" and passed away on September 7, 1988, whilst His Majesty‘s mother, Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit had earlier passed away on September 3, 1979.
Source: www.brudirect.com (22 September 2007)
