HM's gift to teachers, students

Official opening of Al-Falaah School's new complex

APPRECIATIVE teachers and students of Al-Falaah School warmly greeted their generous benefactor His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday during the official opening of its new building complex.

A gift from His Majesty, the complex is the school's first very own building after 15 years in operation. Established in 1995, it was housed temporarily at Jln Jawatan Dalam and Jln Ong Sum Ping before moving to another location at Taman Manggis, Jln Muara in 2003. In 1999, the school opened another branch at Ban 5.

The new building has the capacity to accommodate 600 people and occupies 3.7 acres of land in Kg Sungai Akar, Jalan Kebangsaan.

With a royal entourage consisting of HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Prince Haji 'Abdul Azim and HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik, His Majesty witnessed a variety of performances lined up for the official opening.

The Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, greeted His Majesty and led the royal entourage into the school auditorium where the opening ceremony was held.

The ceremony started off with the national anthem sung by the young students of the school in unison which was later followed by the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Juned. Before speeches commenced, His Majesty was treated to three special welcomes delivered by the talented students of the school in Arabic, English as well as Malay.

In her speech, deputy principal Hjh Sharifah Mastura Al-Sagoff Saiyed Zain, expressed her gratitude towards His Majesty for his generous gesture and wished for his blessing in the progress of the school's development.

Another speech presented by the Minister of Education highlighted His Majesty's personal gift towards the school as a reflection of his serious concerns and care in elevating the quality of education especially the teachings based on the Al-Quran.

He said that it was a gift to not only be thankful for but to also be viewed as a catalyst for the teachers, students and parents of the school to continuously strive in improving the quality of teaching and learning towards achieving excellence and maintaining the image as one of the leading school in duniawi (worldly) and ukhrawi (hereafter) education, which will be able to produce human capital that will make the Sultanate proud.

After His Majesty delivered his titah, the monarch was invited to sign the school's plaque. As the monarch inked his signature, a chant was heard across the auditorium as students cited 'Allahu Akhbar!' three times in celebration of the joyous occasion.

Not long after, the principal of Al-Falaah Ustaz Saiyed Haamid Aal-Taaher Saiyed Ibrahim presented His Majesty with a pesambah on stage in the form of a rolled up poster.

His Majesty and his royal entourage then witnessed a number of performances by the talented students from the school such as a mass recitation of the Surah Yassin, solo story telling in English and Arabic, a nasyid performances, before touring the premises. The monarch also visited a few classes conducted in English, Malay and Arabic, one of the unique qualities that the school had to offer its students.

Currently, there are 636 students studying at the Sungai Akar branch whereas only 277 students are at the Ban 5 facility.

The Brunei Times