A dynamic national education system will produce a highly competent and employable graduate that meets the country’s manpower requirement to sustain economic growth. Amid queries of the availability of post secondary progression opportunities in TVET, a press conference was held today at the Ministry of Education. Present at the event were Dato Hj Zulkarnain Bin Hj Hanafi, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), Hjh Anis Faudzulani, head of Higher Education section, Dr Hj Mohd Zamri Bin Hj Sabli, Acting Director, Institute of Brunei Technical Education, Awg Denis Ho Mun Tai, Director, Politeknik Brunei and Awg Hj Abdul Rahim Bin Hj Derus, Director General of Education and Head of the Department of Schools.

TVET plays an integral role in building a robust, comprehensive and integrated educational system that recognizes the diversity of talents and values in each individual.

As part of the Ministry of Education grand initiative to realign Technical and Vocational Education System to the demands of the various industries that support national economic development,  close collaboration with industries has been set up with the aim to produce skilled and competitive workforce who are entrepreneurial, possess the appropriate qualifications, industry accredited skills, professional and highly employable. Through this initiative, greater opportunity will be available for post-secondary school students who are skillful and technically inclined to pursue the technical and vocational education and training, and obtain gainful employment in the skill and technical sectors. This transformation is seen as more responsive and demand-driven with stakeholders pledging to commit by providing support in making the transformation a success.

Under the new national education system, Technical Education will be offered by both the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) and Politeknik Brunei (PB).  IBTE will award its own certificates at three levels of training namely, Industrial Skills Qualification or ISQ (NQF – Level 2), National Technical Education Certificate or the NTec (NQF – Level 3) and Higher National Tehnical Certificate or the HNTec (NQF – Level 4).  Entry level at ISQ is for Form Three (3) in pre-SPN21 system or Year 9 leavers of the SPN21 system. For NTec Level 3, applicants have to complete their Year 11 secondary education, though without necessary having any credit O Levels. For the HNTec Level 4, there is a minimum requirement of 3 O Levels (in relevant subjects).

PB on the other hand offers 3-years Diploma Programmes (NQF Level 5). This Diploma is equivalent to the Higher National Diploma (NQF – Level 5). Entry into Politeknik Brunei requires a minimum of 5 credit O Levels. They must obtained 5-26 points inclusive from the 5 relevant O Level subjects. Progression from HNTec is possible with merits performance. Entry into the Diploma in Health Science (NQF – Level 4) requires minimum 4 credit O Levels in relevant science subjects.

Currently, the technical education is still in its transition phase and at this transition stage, IBTE still offers the two-year BDTVEC Diploma (NQF Level 4). This diploma will be phased out soon and replaced by HNTec Programmes (NQF Level 4).  Similarly, some of the Skill Certificate Programs still on offer for the final intake, will be replaced by NTec Programmes next year. At Politeknik Brunei, the two-year Advanced Diploma programmes is phased out and is replaced by the three-year Diploma Programmes starting July 2015.

The transformation of Technical Education ensures multiple pathways with clear progression opportunities for our students in an effort to produce highly skilled human resource to supporting the nation’s economic development. This process is in response to the titah made by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam in welcoming the new year 2013, urging for a re-evaluation of the technical and vocational education, in the hopes of contributing to the needs of the industry and local job market.

We are pleased to announce that our 7 campuses will be having an open day. The dates are as follows:

IBTE will be opening the course registration for 2015 soon. Stay tune!

 On January 22nd, the French Bruneian Business Association, FBBA hosted a talk on “Transformation of Technical Education in Brunei Darussalam: An update & implications ” in which the invited speaker was  Dr Chin Wei Keh, Director of IBTE. The event was held at the Radisson Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan.

In his talk, Dr Chin stressed that IBTE is established in response to the need to restructure and establish a new system of TVET which is better aligned with the social and economic needs of the country. He went on to share the progress of the transformation and IBTE’s way forward.

In its effort to ensure the delivery of IBTE’s mission and vision by 2018,the Strategic Planning Unit of IBTE has organised a two-day team building programme whihc was held at MTSSR.

The team building programme will be a monthly event in which the selected participants from the seven institutions will brainstorm and provide valuable feedback on IBTE’s transformation into a leading technical institution that can produce employable graduates and meet employers’ satisfaction.

The Public Relations and Marketing division of IBTE has been actively involved with other agencies such as ISB and PKBN on raising students’ awareness of what IBTE has to offer them. These career pathway talks aim to expose secondary school students to the programmes offered by IBTE and how choosing  technical education can be a rewarding pathway to pave one’s future.

Eight instructors from the Construction, Geomatics, Planning & Development, and Building Craft programme of the Built Environment and Technology department of Sekolah Vokasional Nakhoda Ragam were invited to attend the Continuous Professional Development talk on Building Measurement Standard titled International Standard for Surveyors,  CPD Talk 2015 which was held on February 3rd at the Atria Simpur, Department of Public Works Headquarters (JKR). The talk was given by Mr. Bill Jones (RICS-ASEAN Managing Director) and Mr. Salim Aslam (RICS-ASEAN Manager).

The instructors and 10 selected  students then attended the Surveyors’ Night 2015 held at Park View Hotel in Jerudong  later that evening. The students had the opportunity to socialise with the speakers and gain more knowledge  of the Built Environment industry.

Institut Latihan Perindustrian Miri, ILPM paid a courtesy visit to IBTE to learn more of what IBTE can offer students who are interested to pursue a satisfying future in the technical and vocational sectors and to share experiences with their counterparts in Brunei.

On hand to greet the entourage was Cikgu Hajah Mariah Bte Hj Ab Manaf, senior education officer at IBTE. The visitors were briefed about the establishment of IBTE, courses offered and what IBTE hopes to do in the future.

The visitors then visited Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College in Jalan Muara.