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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2020
EDUCATION
As the country gears for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, the Ministry of Education (MoE)
strives to provide an equitable and holistic
education system for all. Under the long term
outcomes of the ministry’s Strategic Plan
2018-2022, the MoE plans towards a first-
class education system. This includes having
qualified and high quality teachers, high quality
schools and students with high achievements.
The country’s National Education System for
the 21
st
Century (SPN21) takes into account
the abilities of individual students, offering
multiple pathways. In addition, highly capable
students are able to complete their secondary
education in a shorter period of time. Through
this system, students have the options to
choose programmes that best suit their
abilities, interests, growth and development,
catering to their needs.
Formal schooling in the country begins at
pre-school level at the age of five, followed
by six years of primary education. After the
primary school assessment at the end of
Year 6, students will proceed to secondary
(tertiary) level.
Secondary education is divided into lower
secondary level and upper secondary level.
The lower secondary level covers two years
of common curriculum
–
Year 7 and Year
8. Afterwards, students sit for the student
progress examination and proceed to the
upper secondary level.
The upper secondary level is split into three
programmes. The first programme is the
General Secondary Education Programme,
split into two categories: Express (two
years) or Normal (three years). The second
programme, Applied Secondary Education
Programme, lasts for three years. In both
programmes, students sit for the Brunei
Cambridge General Certificate of Education
(BC GCE) ‘O’ Level and International General
Certificate of Secondary Examination (IGCSE).
Thethirdprogramme,SpecialAppliedProgramme,