Thursday, May 22, 2008

Education Policy Product


I was searching an old album and found this pic. I flip over. There, stated at the back a caption; taken in 1963 during school term holiday. That was 41 years ago. At that time there was no secondary education in Brunei. Bright students were sent to overseas. This was where this two Brunei students and I studied after passing darjah enam in 1962/63; the full residential Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ipoh Malaya. During 1st term holidays we joined our Malayan friends for what is nowdays termed as home stay. We were given allowance by the gov't and the train ticket to our kampung distinations. Second term holiday we stayed at the hostel. Hostel was like a haunted building. Everybody went home except Brunei students. Third term holidays... this was best.. That was when we went back home to Brunei - not by supersonic jet but turbo plane fokker friendship yang ada kipas di sayapnya. Badannya menjungkat masa terabang. Okey jua. Bukan jua ramai orang Brunei naik kapal terabang masa atu. Lunchnya best. Ada udang Bekara di belah dua.

Well, that was a least put yourself in different category; overseas scholarship at the age of 12 years. You can't get it now. That was another fruit of New Development Policy (education policy) when oil was found in Brunei in 1954.

You may ask who is in the pic. The one wearing blue short was Allahyarham Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Tengah who passed away in road accident in Lawas a few years ago. He was a prominent businessman, the former president Malay Chanber of Commerce The one wearing white short ...... I think most of you could recognise him. The boyish looking face is our Brunei permanent representative in United Nation Tuan Yang Terutama Awang Mohamad Jenin bin Erey. Who would imigine this 12 years old boy at that time now sit in the world body representing a country ? Well that was what our far vision leaders planned.... modern education policy for the young. Terima kasih tuan-tuan.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Masha Allah, Both Haji Bakar Tengah [ my brother ] and Janin Erih, passed away. Thank you, for posting that precious photo and the wonderful text on the two gentlemen, Tuan. I was just googling on my late brother's name to find some info on his business for our Kampong's project, and came across your blog, Sipugut Blog. I will passed the photo to our family. We missed him so much, may his soul rest in peace and sentiasa ditempatkan bersama orang2 soleh dan ahli Syurga, Amin Ya Allah.
Thank you once again, Tuan..