Career Guidance & Job Opportunities

The education policy,

The school’s culture and specific situational factors all contribute to the routine habits of teachers and students. A school’s culture has its own language, knowledge and vocabulary which each contribute to a particular orientation to mathematics education.

The education system in Brunei Darussalam is centralised and examination oriented. At various stages during their education, students in Brunei Darussalam undergo examinations that determine their selection, placement and promotion. The education system is largely content driven, with an emphasis on students passing the examinations. There would appear to be limited change in teaching styles and general classroom management since the 1960s, with reports (Ministry of Education, 1993a) indicating that teachers are experiencing problems in the teaching and learning mathematics in Brunei Darussalam's schools.

The present study investigated the extent to which these reported problems might be affecting the mathematics classroom environment in Brunei Darussalam's junior secondary schools. In addition, because students' attitudes towards mathematics are considered an important factor in mathematics classrooms, this study also included assessment of students’ attitudes and investigated their association with the nature of the mathematics classroom learning environment.

Brunei Darussalam is situated on the north-west coast of the island of Borneo. It is bounded on the north by the South China Sea and on all other sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which has divided Brunei Darussalam into two parts. Its coastline stretches for 161 kilometres and the country has a total area of 5,765 square kilometres. Brunei Darussalam is a Muslim Malay monarchy with an estimated population around 300,000, of which 67% are Malays, 17% are Europeans or Indians, and the remainder of whom are Chinese and indigenous people.

A sound socioeconomic climate has enabled Brunei Darussalam's people to enjoy a high standard of living, which includes tax-free personal income. Economically, rents, royalties, taxes and dividends support Brunei Darussalam. Whilst economically Brunei Darussalam is dependent on the production of crude oil and natural gas, a series of five-year national development plans has been used to diversify the economy by encouraging development in other fields.

Although the official language of Brunei Darussalam is Malay, English, Chinese and a number of native dialects are also spoken. In Brunei Darussalam, education is free for all citizens from the primary level (aged from five years) to the tertiary level. Students can select to attend either government schools, which are administered by the Ministry of Education, or private schools, which are funded by different communities and work directly under the supervision of Ministry of Education. During the last Five-Year Plan, more secondary schools were opened to speed up the national development program.

The school system consists of the three stages of primary education, secondary education and higher education. Students attend primary education for 7 years, which includes one year of pre-schooling. For the first four years of primary education, the medium of instruction is Malay, the official language of Brunei Darussalam. From grade 5 onwards, the medium of instruction for science and mathematics is English, whilst all other subjects are taught in Malay. Mathematics is compulsory at all grade levels from primary through to secondary levels. At the lower primary level (grades 1-3), students are taught mathematics for 12 periods a week and, at the upper primary level (grades 4-6), 10 of the 45 periods taught per week are allocated to mathematics.

At the lower secondary school level, students learn mathematics for six periods a week whilst, at the upper secondary level (form 4 and 5), five periods are allocated to mathematics. However, bright students are encouraged to study additional mathematics during these two years. After completing their 'O' Levels, students with adequate and relevant Ordinary Level passes may proceed to sixth form centres to do a further two-year pre-university course leading to the Brunei-Cambridge Advanced Level Certificate of Education or GCE ‘A’ Level. After this, students proceed to higher studies either at the University of Brunei Darussalam or abroad. Others might decide to opt for employment or to undertake education and training programs at the Sinaut Agricultural Training Centre, technical colleges, vocational schools, or the Nursing College.

During their education, students attending school in Brunei Darussalam are expected to sit for three public examinations, which are conducted by the Ministry of Education. The Primary Certificate of Education Examination (PCE) is taken at the end of primary school; the Brunei Junior Certificate of Education Examination (BJCE) is taken after three years at senior school; and the General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE ' O ' Level) is taken at the end of five years at senior school. More info>>