Top students garner awards

A STUDENT from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah became the first Bruneian to receive the High Achievement Award yesterday at the Cambridge Outstanding Achiever Awards Ceremony for 'O', 'AS' and 'A' Level students in last year's examinations.

Muhd Hidayatullah Sunazul Fikar Suip received the award for obtaining grade 'A' in Hafaz Al-Quran during last year's 'O' level exams from October to November.

"I am very happy to have obtained this award," said the 18-year-old, adding that he managed to get grade 'A' from memorising the Quran everyday.

"It is important to read the Quran on a daily basis because if you do not, you will forget what you have read," he said.

He added that although it is a difficult task to read the Quran everyday, it is enjoyable at the same time. "I want to help achieve His Majesty's vision of the country becoming a zikir nation."

Muhd Hidayatullah plans to continue his Religious Studies by getting a scholarship to Egypt or Malaysia.

"I already had an interview at Selangor in Malaysia and I am now waiting for their response," he said.

Other top students who were honoured was 19-year-old Supatra Lee from Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College (Maktab Duli) who collected six awards yesterday for getting top results in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology and Thinking Skills on her 'A' Level exams last year.

She also received an additional award for landing a spot in the Top 10 in the World for excelling in Biology.

"Getting these grades was a continuous effort and it was quite stressful for me. However, I would not encourage going through 'AS' exams because students have to sit for exams throughout the two years of (sixth form)," she said.

Lee, a permanent resident of Brunei, said that she had an offer from New York University at its Abu Dhabi campus and will be pursuing either an Engineering or Physics course this August.

"I am not sure about coming back to Brunei to work because there are no research (institutes) here. I would prefer to work in New York," she said.

Yap Wei Chin from Sayyidina Ali Secondary School received an award for obtaining the top result in Brunei for Physics.

The 18-year-old said that it was hard work getting four 'A's in his 'AS' exams but that "if you know what you are good at, you should keep on working at it and do the best you can".

He also said that parents play an important role in encouraging and helping their child to succeed.

After completing his 'A' Level exams at the end of this year, Yap intends to go to the United States to pursue a degree in either Mathematics, Economics or Engineering.

He said that if he decides to return to Brunei to work, he hopes to raise the standards and "make Brunei a better and more developed country".

Silvian Tan from Chung Hua Middle School in Kuala Belait also received an award for achieving a place in the Top 10 in the World for Commercial Studies. The 18-year-old student achieved 10 'A's out of 12 subjects during the 'O' Level exams last year.

Tan said: "I feel very honoured and excited to get this award. Students must have the will power and be committed to their studies because it is not easy unless you put effort into the subjects."

The Brunei Times