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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2021
Online learning and home learning
packages
Following the COVID-19 outbreak in March
2020, schools and vocational institutions
across the nation were quick to adapt to online
learning at home for safety measures.
Students learned from various online platforms
based on their schools’ capacity, whether
through e-mail, Google Docs, WhatsApp,
video
conferencing,
Microsoft
Teams,
social media platforms or other compatible
telecommunications application.
The schools also provided home-pack learning
for students who did not have access to the
Internet or were not able to afford computers
and handphones for online learning. Some
schools provided the option of a drive-through
pick up method for the parents.
Meanwhile, the MoE in collaboration with
the Special Education Unit also developed the
home-pack learning package with guidelines for
students with special needs. Several technologies
were prepared by the Special Education Unit to
help with the students’ learning.
To avoid overcrowding on e-learning, classes
were divided into several groups. Some opted
in accordance to their timetables at schools.
Education by means of television programmes
were also implemented to supplement teaching
and learning through mass media.
Government aid and scholarship
opportunities
The MoE provides scholarships for talented and
quali ed students to pursue higher education
through its Government Scholarship Scheme
to study abroad, whether to pursue their First
Degree, Master, Professional or PhD.
Aside from the Government Scholarship
Scheme, students are able to study abroad
through the Education Loan Assistance Scheme
(SBPP). If a recipient successfully graduates
with a First Class (Honours), the loan is treated
as a scholarship, and the recipient is not
required to repay the loan.
Other scholarships available include the
prestigious Sultan’s Scholar scholarship
scheme offered by Yayasan Sultan Haji
Hassanal Bolkiah for the highest achievers
in the country. Bruneians also have the
opportunity of obtaining a scholarship under
the Ministry of Defence to study at the world’s
top and renowned universities. The scholarship
is aimed to develop outstanding leaders who
will contribute to the nation’s defence and
security. With the various government aid and
scholarship opportunities, Brunei Darussalam
strives to realise its Vision 2035 for an
educated, highly skilled and successful society.