BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei has recorded lower absenteeism among students following a shift in strategy that emphasise the importance of the Compulsory Education Act, the education minister said Wednesday at the Legislative Council (LegCo).

Citing data from the Ministry of Education’s Planning and Research Development Department, Datin Paduka Hjh Romaizah Hj Md Salleh said only 212 of 75,835 students were reported as truant.

She said MoE no longer focus on penalties for parents who failed to send their children to school, but educate them on the importance of attending school.

From November 1, 2023, the ministry shifted its approach and invited any absent students to seek assistance, she added. 

Thirteen individuals have since returned to schools after dropping out.

The government last year revised the Compulsory Education Act, which now requires five-year-old children to start school as part of efforts to strengthen early childhood education. The previous minimum age for compulsory education was set at six.

Enforced since 2007, the compulsory education laws also stipulate that students must stay in school for at least 10 years.

Datin Paduka Hjh Romaizah said the government is taking measures to prevent students from skipping school, including conducting home visits, working with grassroots leaders and engaging with parent-teacher associations.

Students facing attendance issues and those from underprivileged backgrounds are placed at the Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College hostel as part of the Riayah Wa Mahabbah programme.

Meanwhile, the minister said the graduation rate for technical education and higher studies stood at 86.8% in 2022, below the 90% target.

In response to a query from LegCo member Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman Hj Ibrahim on student dropout rates, she said various factors contributed to students not completing their studies.

The factors include academic failure, job opportunities, health issues, financial constraints and lack of family support, as well as social problems.

Some students also dropped out as they needed to retake classes and complete their studies the following year. 

Over 800 students awarded education loans

The minister said 864 students have been awarded loans to pursue higher studies since the Education Loan Assistance Scheme was introduced in 2014.

Some 692 education loan recipients have completed their studies, including 122 who achieved first-class honours.

Under the scheme, students who graduated with first-class honours are not required to repay their loans as they will be offered scholarships.

Nine students attained first-class honours last year, down from 13 in 2022.

Responding to Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman’s proposal to expand the courses offered under the education loan scheme, the minister said the list of courses reflects the country’s needs that were identified by the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC). 

Continuous collaboration with MPEC is crucial to ensuring effective workforce planning and alignment between employability and job opportunities, she added.