Govt fully committed to promoting science and technology
Committed: Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education Hjh Norjum Hj Yusop says that the government is committed to promoting scientific knowledge. Picture: Helmyshah
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
THE Brunei government is strongly committed to science and technology development, which is evident in terms of its membership in related bodies and organisations, and what it does to promote scientific knowledge to the public.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Hjh Norjum Hj Yusop, listed the government's initiatives in promoting scientific knowledge while officiating the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Isesco) Symposium on Building Scientific Knowledge Base for the General Public yesterday.
For instance, the Ministry of Education promotes science indirectly through its Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (ST EP) unit. Although the activities organised by the unit are targeted for schoolchildren, they can also stimulate the general public's interest.
The ministry's Research and Development Unit has also set up a science, technology and innovation fund to help non-government organisations to promote science activities for the general public.
In addition, the host of the symposium, UBD, through its science faculty, has been promoting science and technology to the general public for the past four years through its Science and Technology Week. The yearly event has seen overwhelming response in the past.
Another institution, Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) is actively on the look out for inventors in science and technology, through the Crown Prince CIPTA awards.
These initiatives demonstrate the education ministry's commitment to promote science in schools and to encourage students to take science and maths subjects in their studies.
"Science should no longer be a subject that students consider difficult but rather and interesting subject to learn," said Hjh Norjum.
Other ministries also play a part in spreading awareness and understanding of science.
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, for instance, through its Department of Agriculture has published a guide in both Malay and English on genetically modified organisms.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports promotes natural history education through the Brunei Museums Department.
In addition, the Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, known for its diverse flora and fauna, has a gallery exhibiting the area's biodiversity, which is open to the public.
The government sector, however, is not the only one to answer the call to spread the knowledge.
According to the permanent secretary, NGOs also contribute by organising conferences in new areas of science such as 'bioinformatics' and exhibiting new technological advancements.
The deputy permanent secretary said in her speech that other countries may have taken different approaches. "What I have just shared with you may be different to what you have done in your respective countries," she said.
Such differences should not be viewed as a hindrance, but rather as an advantage as they provide the countries involved a better idea of what works and what does not.
"Therefore, the experiences being brought to the symposium by the delegates from different countries will be extremely important."
The Brunei Times
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Hjh Norjum Hj Yusop, listed the government's initiatives in promoting scientific knowledge while officiating the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Isesco) Symposium on Building Scientific Knowledge Base for the General Public yesterday.
For instance, the Ministry of Education promotes science indirectly through its Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (ST EP) unit. Although the activities organised by the unit are targeted for schoolchildren, they can also stimulate the general public's interest.
The ministry's Research and Development Unit has also set up a science, technology and innovation fund to help non-government organisations to promote science activities for the general public.
In addition, the host of the symposium, UBD, through its science faculty, has been promoting science and technology to the general public for the past four years through its Science and Technology Week. The yearly event has seen overwhelming response in the past.
Another institution, Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) is actively on the look out for inventors in science and technology, through the Crown Prince CIPTA awards.
These initiatives demonstrate the education ministry's commitment to promote science in schools and to encourage students to take science and maths subjects in their studies.
"Science should no longer be a subject that students consider difficult but rather and interesting subject to learn," said Hjh Norjum.
Other ministries also play a part in spreading awareness and understanding of science.
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, for instance, through its Department of Agriculture has published a guide in both Malay and English on genetically modified organisms.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports promotes natural history education through the Brunei Museums Department.
In addition, the Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, known for its diverse flora and fauna, has a gallery exhibiting the area's biodiversity, which is open to the public.
The government sector, however, is not the only one to answer the call to spread the knowledge.
According to the permanent secretary, NGOs also contribute by organising conferences in new areas of science such as 'bioinformatics' and exhibiting new technological advancements.
The deputy permanent secretary said in her speech that other countries may have taken different approaches. "What I have just shared with you may be different to what you have done in your respective countries," she said.
Such differences should not be viewed as a hindrance, but rather as an advantage as they provide the countries involved a better idea of what works and what does not.
"Therefore, the experiences being brought to the symposium by the delegates from different countries will be extremely important."
The Brunei Times
Business Besides Oil
