• Today: September 4, 2026

‘Malay language proficiency paves way for educational opportunities’

Malay language proficiency is not only vital for academic achievement but also paves the way for further educational opportunities, said Head of the Brunei Darussalam Leadership and Teacher Academy (BDLTA) and Acting Assistant Director of the Department of Educators Management Dr Roslena binti Pehin Datu Indera Sugara Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Johari.

She said this in her welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of the Bahasa Melayu Symposium 2026 yesterday, while highlighting the 2025 Primary School Assessment (PSR) data. Malay Language is one of the five subjects assessed. Of the 5,971 candidates, 4,891 students, or 81.91 per cent, obtained Grades ‘A’ to ‘D’ in all five subjects, while 3,860 students, or 64.65 per cent, obtained Grades ‘A’ to ‘C’. However, specifically in Malay Language, fewer than 30 per cent of candidates obtained Grade ‘A’. This indicates that although overall performance is encouraging, proficiency in Malay Language at an excellent level still needs to be further strengthened.

Proficiency in the Malay language, she reminded, “remains crucial at the Brunei-Cambridge GCE O-Level stage. Brunei students must achieve at least a Credit (C6) in the Malay language subject as a prerequisite for applying for scholarships through the Department of Scholarship Management.”

The Malay language, she emphasised, “must also continue to be upheld as the official language of the country, as enshrined in the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam 1959, as well as the medium for knowledge and an expression of our national identity.”

Dr Roslena also described the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in education: “Imagine a student being given an assignment to write an essay. With AI, a complete essay can be generated in just 30 seconds. However, the real question is not how much AI can write for our students, but how much they are still able to think for themselves – to evaluate information, choose their words, construct arguments and express their own voice as children of Brunei.”

Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin at the symposium. PHOTO: SIM Y H
Head of the Brunei Darussalam Leadership and Teacher Academy and Acting Assistant Director of the Department of Educators Management Dr Roslena binti Pehin Datu Indera Sugara Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Johari speaks at the event. PHOTO: SIM Y H

In line with the symposium’s theme, ‘Empowering Educators and Students in the Wave of Digital and AI Transformation’, she said, “let us harness technology wisely to strengthen pedagogy, nurture creativity and enhance the quality of learning without compromising values, integrity and humanity.”

AI, she highlighted, “has the potential to become a valuable support tool for teachers. It can assist in generating teaching ideas, producing visual materials and mind maps, developing assessment questions, providing feedback, and tailoring learning according to students’ levels and needs. However, its use must be accompanied by caution, as AI can also generate inaccurate information, non-standard language, biased content, as well as pose risks to data privacy and academic integrity.”

Therefore, she said, “the advancement of AI does not diminish the role of teachers; rather, it makes their role increasingly important. AI can serve as a supportive partner, but teachers remain the designers of learning, verifiers of information, facilitators of critical thinking, and custodians of values and human relationships.”

During the symposium, the participants had the opportunities to broaden their knowledge, try new approaches and gain ideas that can be adapted to the needs of their students and their classroom contexts. By bringing together local expertise, effective teaching practices, and the creative and ethical use of technology, the symposium is expected to contribute to strengthening Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge that remains relevant in the era of digital transformation.

The symposium featured a keynote address, learning circle sessions, workshops and spotlight sessions, where participants had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, explore new approaches and gain ideas that could be adapted to the needs of their students and their respective classroom contexts.

Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin was the guest of honour. 

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/James Kon

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