Resiliency is the key in the new normal, education expert advises Brunei people

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Dec 11 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the structure of education systems across the globe, said Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Brunei in Egypt Pengiran Ahmad Munir.

Ahmad delivered a national statement on behalf of Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Hamzah Sulaiman as Chairperson of the National Commission of Brunei Darussalam for Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at the 14th Session of the General Conference of ICESCO at St Regis Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

Nonetheless, the chargé d’Affaires said resiliency and adaptability has ensured that teaching and learning continue in the Sultanate.

This is done through initiatives, such as the digital transformation of Brunei’s education system that aspires towards effective remedial learning and comprehensive services to help recover learning losses and improve the overall welfare of learners.

Pengiran Ahmad Munir also shared on the implementation of the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) Digital Transformation Plan to make digital learning a new norm in the education system with the emphasis on education technology, management technology, and enabling policies and infrastructure.

In reference to ICESCO theme for 2021 being the Year of Women, he said the Sultanate recently ranked second in both education and health in the 2021 Asia-Pacific Girls Report: Voice, Choice and Power – evident of Brunei’s commitment in empowering the resilience of young women as agents of change towards the development of the family, society and the nation.

The national statement concluded with the assurance of the Sultanate’s commitment towards ICESCO’s continued constructive contribution towards the Islamic world and the development of human civilisations in achieving cooperation, solidarity, progress and prosperity.

The chargé d’affaires also attended the 42nd Session of the Executive Council of ICESCO on behalf of Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE Dr Azman Ahmad as the Secretary-General of the National Commission of Brunei for ICESCO at the same venue on Monday, accompanied by officials of the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Cairo, Egypt.

The General Conference, which convenes once every three years, was attended by representatives from 49 out of 51 member states to discuss and review the policies, activities and recommendations of ICESCO in the fields of education, science and culture. The opening ceremony was officiated by President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN