Statement by Brunei's Deputy Minister of Education

May I also join His Excellency Pehin Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam, in extending a very warm welcome to your Excellencies the Ministers of Education of SEAMEO Member Countries and Associate Member Countries, Heads of Delegation and Observers to Brunei Darussalam.

On behalf of the Brunei delegation, it gives me great pleasure in extending our warm and sincere appreciation to His Excellency Pehin Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam for being elected as President of SEAMEC for 1998 and concurrent Chairperson of the conference. Our warm and sincere congratulations is also extended to His Excellency, Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education, Republic of Singapore, for his election as Vice Chairperson of the Conference. We also would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to His Excellency, Dr Ricardo T Gloria, Her Excellency Dr Erlinda C Pefianco the outgoing SEAMEC Presidents, for their leadership and contribution to SEAMEO during their terms of office.

Brunei Darussalam is pleased to welcome the admission of the Union of Myanmar, as a new member of SEAMEO and looks forward to its participation in regional co-operation in the fields of Education, Science and Culture.

Distinguish Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the past few decades, we find that countries in the East Asian region are striving to achieve the highest possible rates of growth, while at the same time trying to attain modernisation and industrialisation through regional and international cooperation.

Many countries in this region have succeeded in attaining what they set out to achieve, as a result of the productivity, creativity and innovativeness of their people. Such an experience projects the region into a potential global markets in trade and capital that aspiring by other countries to attain such progress and development.

Today, with the recent financial crisis affecting the East Asian countries especially the ASEAN member countries has demonstrated serious implications on the economic development of the region. The current turmoil has predicted a long-term slow down in the region’s growth rates. No doubt, that the East Asian financial crisis has dealt a body blow to the region’s economic development which has become accustomed to rapid growth.

At this stage, we cannot help but feel the same amount of anxiety with the challenges asking for appropriate solution. Such feelings of course affect everyone and every nation in the world, especially in the East Asian region. It is imperative that we regain composure, take stock of what we have made of and how we came to where we are and then take a hard look at where we want to go and to destine ourselves from here. Therefore, all of us need to prepare for the impending future. SEAMEO Member Countries must be able to foresee the problems related to the development of human resources. We must be prepared to work out short and long-term policies to go along with the regional financial strategies.

In preparation, we certainly must have our own plan or agenda for development. There is a need for SEAMEO to take into account the importance of readjustment in generating and sustaining economic oriented human resource development. Hence, SEAMEO must be effective and efficient.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we approach the year two thousand, our world is becoming even more competitive. Our very existence would, it seems, depend very much on our ability to harness new knowledge and skills. Those who are able to apply the state of the art technology, combined with effective management skills and hard work, will have a better chance of surviving and succeeding. This applies not only to societies in general, but also to individuals. As countries move from low skill, labour-intensive industries towards high-tech industries, a different set of workers are required namely those who are highly skilled, highly value added and adaptable to change.

Acquiring new skills is not a one-off activity, but rather, a continous process, whereby an individual worker is required to constantly upgrade, gaining new knowledge and skills to keep up with technological developments, throughout life. Changes in work patterns and the half life span of a profession places great emphasis on lifelong learning, which is becoming part and parcel of our modern world.

Brunei Darussalam recognizes that a sound policy on human resource development is crucial to its economic, as well as social and political future. Brunei Darussalam places a high premium on knowledge and skills. Education is the key to advancement and progress. Brunei Darussalam is constantly reviewing and fine-tuning its education policies and also their implementations to meet the needs of a young and growing nation. His Majesty’s government fully realises that our natural resources such as oil and gas are no longer the permanent asset for the economic development of the nation; instead, its people proves to be the most valuable resources. Besides having abundance natural resources, we now initiated our education and development policies anchored towards nurturing human talents and developing human potential to the fullest. It is our strong belief that the struggle to raise a nation’s living standards is fought first and foremost in the classroom.

An integrated approach to human resources development has to be put in place, starting from our school systems, technical and vocational schools, higher institutions, continuing education institutions and training units in industries. The product of our systems - the future workforce - must be adaptable to the ever changing environment, have a global outlook and have portable skills in order to contribute to national and global economy, rather than serve a small arena of surrounding community and society.

Brunei Darussalam realizes that the rate of modernization is associated with both its stock and rate of accumulation of human capital. Therefore, a high level of human resources are needed in the following: to staff new and expanding government services; to develop new means of communication and technology; to accumulate capital; to exploit natural resources; to build social, economic and political organizations; to carry forward industrialization; and in particular, to be able to compete in a new era of globalization and open competition. One of our concerns is that we keep a balance between public and private sector growth.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are aware that SEAMEO is gaining increasing recognition from other established internaional organisations, agencies, institutions and governments through its programmes and activities in human resource development. Its flexibility and resilience should have enabled it to meet the challenges posed by the fast changing political and sensitive socio-economic development in the region.

I am confident that with the strength and established regional and international cooperation, SEAMEO will continue to bring achievements and impacts to steer the present and future challenges. By now SEAMEO should focus its attention to formulate policies or strategies that are geared towards the economic recovery of its Member Countries. Where necessary, its professional and technical programmes and activities can be readjusted according to the current needs and issues. Secondly, its strong infrastructure of extensive physical and equipment resources can be an asset to enhance every centre to strenghten its programme in training, research and information dissemination facilities to enable it to carry out its functions efficiently and effectively. Thirdly, more focus on activities that universally appealing themes of human resources development including sustainable development and empowerment of the people towards economic development. Fourthly, to expand linkages and networks with well-established regional and international organizations and agencies with technical competence and expertise account for the quality and impacts of its programmes and activities.

May I take this opportunity to reaffirm Brunei Darussalam’s commitment and active participation in SEAMEO, and especially to the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Technical and Vocational Education (VOCTECH) which we host.

I would like to express, on behalf of Brunei Darussalam, my sincere thanks and appreciation to Member Countries, Associate Member Countries, Donor Governments and Agencies, International and Regional Organisations and Foundations for their continuing assistance and generous support to SEAMEO and its Centres.

I would like to thank the SEAMES Director and staff of the Secretariat, Centre Directors and their staff, as well as members of Governing Boards of SEAMEO Regional Centres for their diligence and hardwork. Without their active participation, co-operation and effort, the various programmes and activities of the Regional Centres and project could not be as successful.

Last updated: 19 September 2001
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