Day: November 11, 2021

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School Assessed Marks Utilised For Candidate Selection

The Minister of Religious Affairs also touched on the Arabic School Candidate Selection Examination. The School Assessed Marks will be utilised for assessing the students, by taking into account the student’s examination marks either the mid-year exam, topical tests or work assessment throughout 2021.

 

For students in private schools or schools under the Ministry of Education’s purview, subjects that are included in the examination requirements are Mathematics and Science. Hence, the Ministry of Education will keep in touch with schools for the student achievement report for Arabic school admission.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Mandatory Vaccine for Teachers and Staff

To support the National Vaccination Programme, all teachers, other school staff, and custodians at schools including religious and Arabic schools as well as the Tahfiz and Higher Education Institutes under the Ministry of Religious Affairs are required to undergo mandatory vaccinations.

 

So far, teachers who have completed 2 doses are 2,781 which is 78.96 per cent; those administered with 1 dose are 709 which is 20.13 per cent and the unvaccinated are 32 which is point 9-1 per cent and overall with at least 1 dose of the vaccine are 3,490 which is 99.09 per cent. The programme will continue on Sunday and Monday, the 14th and 15th of November involving the largest number of students which is 3,647. Meanwhile, staff of the Ministry of Religious Affairs are currently at 6,125 and the number of staff who have received vaccine injections are as follows: Complete 2 doses are 871 which is 80 per cent and 1 dose are 1,193 which is 19 per cent and 58 unvaccinated which is 1 per cent and overall with at least 1 dose are 6,064 people which is 99 per cent.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Reopening Of Mosques, Surau and Religious Halls

The Minister of Religious Affairs announced that all mosques, suraus and religious halls in the country will reopened on Friday, 13 Rabiulakhir 1443 Hijrah corresponding to the 19th of November 2021 starting with Subuh prayer, Friday prayer as well as the following daily prayers during the Transition Phase. Meanwhile in accordance with the decision by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council MUIB, the opening of mosques are for the five times fardhu prayer and Friday prayers only. However religious activities will not yet be held until the situation is regarded as safe.

 

Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awg Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs added that only those aged 18 years and above and have completed the two vaccine doses will be allowed to perform Friday prayers as well as the five times fardhu prayers at mosques, suraus and religious halls throughout the country, which includes suraus under the purview of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Police Force. Only male congregants are allowed to make bookings for the Friday prayer, whereas the five times fardhu prayer are allowed for male and female congregants. The mosque capacity for the Friday prayer is subject to the space inside and outside the mosque after physical distancing of 1 meter in between prayer mats. Meanwhile those with symptoms and at high risk are not allowed to come to mosques, suraus or religious halls.

No mosque takmir activities as well as handshakes among congregants are allowed. For Friday Prayers, congregants are required to make bookings using the BruHealth app and obtain a green or yellow code. Congregants are required to bring their own large sized prayer mats during each prayer. They are required to performed ablution or wudhu before going to the mosque. Mosque facilities such as toilets and ablution areas are not encouraged to be used unless necessary. Face masks are required to be worn at all times as well as to conduct body temperature check. The use of hand sanitisers are encouraged before entering mosques, suraus and religious halls. Meanwhile entry is controlled by uniformed teams assisted by members of the Mosque Takmir Committee; volunteers and mosque youths for the five times Fardhu Prayer and Friday Prayer.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Presentation of Contribution

In together curbing the spread of COVID-19, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Brunei Darussalam, yesterday contributed 700 face masks to the 7th Edition of the ‘Jiwaku Ikhlas’ Project. The presentation was held at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kampung Kiarong.

 

The contribution was handed over by Her Excellency Homeira Rigi Zirouki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Brunei Darussalam to Dayang Hajah Karmila binti Haji Sapar, Founder of the ‘Jiwaku Ikhlas’ Project. Through the project, some 500 people affected during the pandemic including foreign nationals received the contribution.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Brunei-China Virtual Forum

Cooperation in downstream industries, agriculture, and finance sectors between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China have achieved positive results. In the education field, a number of memorandums have been signed and several joint studies have been carried out. This was underlined by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy in a forum on Review and Prospect of Building China-Brunei Strategic Cooperative Partnership — From Perspectives of Education and Industry. The virtual forum was held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China. It was co-organised by the China-ASEAN Research Institute of Guangxi University and the Planning and Development Office, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, UTB.

 

Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin also highlighted the joint training in the chemical industry, which has made positive progress, and added that Brunei Darussalam is looking forward to cooperation and exchanges in more fields with the People’s Republic of China. Meanwhile, Professor Doctor Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice Chancellor of UTB stated that UTB and the People’s Republic of China had enjoyed a good relationship over the years through students and staff cultural exchange and industrial collaborations.

 

The forum was also joined by His Excellency Mr Wang Naixue, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi University, and Her Excellency Madam Yu Hong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam.

 

The event also saw the signing of the Academic Cooperative Agreement between the Civil Engineering and Architecture of Guangxi University, China and the Faculty of Engineering, UTB.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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17,762 Students Received 1st Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Minister of Education explained that 17,762 students have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during the National Vaccination Programme for Students Aged 12 to 17 under the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. They comprise students from schools and institutions under the purview of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religious Affairs, private and international schools.

Out of the figure, 11,805 students were vaccinated in Brunei Muara District, 1,074 in Temburong District, 2,698 in Tutong District and 2,185 in Belait District. Through the programme, the Ministry of Education has assigned supervising officers and teachers to assist staff at vaccination centres to facilitate the registration process for parents and students, and provide transportation for student to the vaccination centres.

The Ministry of Education also informed on 2 changes on the student’s vaccination schedule. The first change is on Friday, 12th of November 2021, involving 11 schools and 699 students. The second change is on the 13th of November 2021 involving 1,105 students from 14 government and private schools and institutions. The new date and vaccination location have been informed to the affected schools. Parents and guardians have been contacted and are advised to refer to the school on this matter or visit the Ministry of Education’s website.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Transition Phase Guidelines

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs have prepared guidelines for technical and higher learning institutions, and public and private training centers in accordance with the National COVID-19 Recovery Framework.

 

According to Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah Bin Haji Sulaiman, Minister of Education, during the Transition Phase, the opening of technical education and higher learning institutions, as well as public and private training centers will be according to guidelines as follows:

 

Firstly capacity restrictions are allowed to operate with a 50 percent capacity limit at a time according to the venue area; Secondly the Admission Protocol whereby only individuals with 2 vaccine doses will be allowed to be at the premises with proof of vaccination. In addition, all individuals are required to undergo an ART test once per week with negative result. Also carried out are general requirements such as the wearing of face masks; QR Code scanning via BruHealth before entering public premises and only those with green and yellow codes are allowed to enter with the identity card shown as confirmation as well as other related requirements in ensuring the Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam are always complied with.

 

During the Transition Phase, teachers in preschool, Primary and Secondary schools, Colleges and Sixth Form Centers, public and private schools under the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs and International Schools, are allowed to return to their respective schools with a 50 percent capacity limit of the total school population at a time as well as carrying out their respective Business Continuity Plan BCP. This is to enable teachers to prepare for the necessary teaching and learning by the new 2022 academic year.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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Consumer Price Index in August 2021

The Consumer Price Index, CPI in August 2021 increased by 1.9 per cent year-on-year compared to August 2020. Prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 2.1 per cent. Meanwhile, Non-Food prices increased by 1.9 per cent. The Department Of Economic Planning And Statistics, Ministry Of Finance And Economy in its media release stated that on a month-on-month basis, the CPI in August 2021 increased by 0.2 per cent compared to July 2021. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index and the Non-Food Index both increased by 0.2 per cent.

 

The CPI increase was largely attributed to increases in the prices and costs of Transport; Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages; and Restaurants and Hotels. However, this was moderated by the decrease in prices and costs of Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance; Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels; and Recreation and Culture.

 

The increase in prices of Transport was largely attributed to the rise in prices of motor cars followed by air tickets in light of limited number of scheduled flights. The rising costs of Restaurants and Hotels were driven by the increase in prices in selected menus for contract catering as well as in restaurants and cafes. The price increase in selected menus was in line with the increase in prices of raw products.

 

The increase in prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages was due to the hike in food prices such as beef and buffalo meat; chicken; cooking oil; and vegetables. The increase in the prices of beef and buffalo meat was, among others, due to increase in import costs, particularly transportation services. As for the chicken meat, the increase in prices was, among others, due to the increase in the cost of chicken feed. Meanwhile, the increase in cooking oil prices, among others, was in line with the increase in input prices such as palm oil.

 

The CPI full report for August 2021 is available from DEPS’ website at www.deps.gov.bn.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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41st UNESCO General Conference

Brunei Darussalam remains committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and UNESCO’s constructive contribution towards the education, science and culture agenda around the world. Her Excellency Datin Paduka Malai Hajah Halimah binti Malai Haji Yussof, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Brunei Darussalam to France and the Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, delivered the statement on behalf of the Minister of Education at the 41st UNESCO General Conference held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France from the 9th to 24th of November 2021.

 

Her Excellency also highlighted the “Ministry of Education Digital Transformation Plan” in which the Ministry of Education is currently embarking on with the aim of making digital learning a new normal in the education system. The conference which convenes biennially was attended by representatives from 193 member states to discuss and review the policies and activities of UNESCO for 2020 to 2021 in the fields of education, science and culture.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Clinic Services

11 people from Kampung Pengkalan Batu and Kampung Masin yesterday received the COVID-19 vaccine injection. The COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Clinic Service provides COVID-19 vaccine injections to those who are unable to come to the Health Center due to health problems.

The service is one of the government’s efforts to make it easier for residents especially senior citizens in the area to obtain the injection. It is also among the initiatives of the Ministry of Health in ensuring the country achieves objective of 80 percent of the population administered with the complete COVID-19 vaccine injections. For those who are unable to come to the Health Center they may register or be registered through the Village Head for vaccination at their respective homes.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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96 New Cases, 119 Recovered

96 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Brunei Darussalam yesterday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 14,058.

 

Four new clusters were detected that involved 23 cases. One of the new clusters, WSS Kiulap Construction Dormitory Cluster is a housing cluster where the company’s employees are residing. Five clusters were closed following no new detected cases in the clusters for 28 days. The closed clusters are Rimba Point, Salvin Princess Vessel, 2034, 6738 and 8003. Therefore, the current total active clusters stand at 171. Meanwhile, there are 3 import cases reported today in which two of the cases arrived in Brunei Darussalam from Kuala Lumpur on board Royal Brunei Airlines BI 874 on the 5th of November 2021, and one case arrived in Brunei Darussalam from Kuala Lumpur on board Royal Brunei Airlines BI 874 on the 27th of October 2021.

 

11 new cases are still being investigated to determine the source of infection. Meanwhile, 119 cases have recovered, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 13,233, with 728 cases remaining active. Among the cases, six are in Category 5 and are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit. All of them require assistance of artificial ventilation with one case requiring additional heart/lung machine, or ECMO. Three cases in Category 4 require oxygen assistance and are under close monitoring. In the past 24 hours, 4,781 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus which brings the total number of lab tests carried out since January 2020 to 549,063.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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2 Cases Passed Away

2 COVID-19 confirmed cases have returned to the grace and mercy of Allah. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Awang Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health stated the matter during the Media Conference on the Latest COVID-19 Situation at Dewan Al’Afiah, Ministry of Health. Joining the conference were Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs; and Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman, Minister of Education.

 

The first case was a 59-year-old man who suffered from several health problems and is not categorised as death due to COVID-19. Whereas the second case was a 61-year-old woman and the cause of this case’s death is still under investigation. In this regard, the Ministry of Health and the people of Brunei Darussalam extended condolences to the cases’ families and pray the cases’ souls will receive blessings and are placed among the pious.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

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