By Za'im Zaini & Aemy Azlena
The education system is not only to generate educated persons, but more importantly it must be able to mould a generation of thinkers.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam made this call in his titah during the celebration for Teachers' Day at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.
The monarch added: "Being educated alone does not guarantee anything. Educated intellectuals are the ones who will form the nation's future that is being awaited.
"I want this system to be successful in generating intellectuals, for confidence, for if we lack them, the country will suffer from obvious weaknesses in all aspects.
"Thus, it is now the time for us to sow the seed in the form of an education system that produces an educated and intellectual generation as our vision to wade through this 21st century."
He added: "Thus, I am pleased when the Ministry of Education is updating the national education system that is known as the 21st century national education system. This is an appropriate step, as the flow of globalisation does not wait for anyone.
"Teachers are the father and mother of educators to the nation. Teachers are the effective mould because of that, teachers can never be separated from education.
"Based on this, I have mentioned before on the importance of having a teacher services scheme to ensure that calibre teachers will continue to work in schools.
"The scheme can give space to teachers to achieve a higher level of income in line with their big contribution. I hope that the services scheme will be immediately realized," His Majesty noted.
"We must have an education system that is always relevant with the demands of time. We do not want to be left behind.
"Teachers' Day is one of the days of the nation that we celebrate annually. It brings its own meaning to the rise of a nation. There will be no rise if there are no teachers. Teachers are those who set the trend.
"With teachers, education continues to progress. Without education, there will not be anything to call progress and development.
"That is the greatness of teachers. Even though Teachers' Day celebration is on September 23rd, it is not late for me to wish a 'Happy Teachers' Day' to those concerned.
- Borneo Bulletin
(28th Oct 2007)
