Bandar Seri Begawan - A General Meeting for the Brunei Historical Society (PESEBAR) was held yesterday at UBD‘s Lecture Theatre. The Fourth General Meeting‘s guest of honour was Acting Minister of Education, Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman.
Also present were PASEBAR President Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Yahya Hj Ibrahim, Honorary Secretary Dato Paduka Dr Hj Abd Latif Hj Ibrahim and committee member Pg Setia Negara Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yusof Pg Hj Abd Rahim.
In his speech, the acting minister noted that the history of a strong country would form the basic principles for its perseverance, sovereignty and dignity.
"I ask the generation of Brunei Darussalam to understand their history. In our education system, the subject is offered as an optional one for secondary schools.
"Students are less interested in taking history classes because maybe they do not understand it or realise how important it really is, or maybe they just do not see it as a subject needed at the Degree level," he said.
"This assumption is inaccurate because not only can a person continue History as a subject in the Degree level, it would also be accepted in fields like Law programmes, Administration and Management, Literature, Brunei‘s Academic Education, and Community and Political Science, among many others.
"History therefore offers very wide prospects and it is hoped that this information will spread so that students would consider taking History for their ‘O‘ and ‘A‘ levels.
The Brunei History Society also plays a role towards achieving such an objective."
The general meeting covered a report by the Honorary Secretary, a financial report by the Honorary Treasurer, the appointment of a temporary chairman, the appointment of new committee members for 2008-2010, suggestions for amending PESEBAR‘s rules, as well as its activity plans.
PESEBAR was established on April 24, 1983, and registered on Feb 8, 1984. Its first general meeting was in May 1984 at the Maktab Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan and officiated by the late Sultan Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa‘adul Khairi Waddien.
The main purpose of Brunei Historical Society is to create more interest in the country‘s history, culture and traditions. (By Amin Hosni)
Source: www.brunei-online.com (June 09, 2008)
