Annual report on Brunei / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1951]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Brunei / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/94 page 22
    Government Malay Vernacular Schools. These are adminis¬ tered by the Department of Education in the person of the State Education Officer, who is assisted by a Superintendent of Malay Education, an Inspector of Malay Schools; two Visiting Teachers— one for handicrafts, drill and games; and one for school and home gardens—and three Group Supervisors. The Schools are divided into three groups, roughly corresponding to the main adminis¬ trative districts in the State. Each Supervisor resides in his own particular district and has an office in the main central school of his group. At least twice a month all inspecting officers, including the Group Supervisors, meet in conference. At these conferences all matters relating to the schools are discussed. Information is pooled; common problems are dealt with. A uniform policy is therefore built up which is most valuable. Incidentally, these conferences save a great deal of correspondence. All schools are inspected by Group Supervisors at least twice a month; except, perhaps, some up-river schools which are difficult of access during the rainy season. Inspections by senior inspect¬ ing officers are in addition to the Supervisors’ inspections. During the year under review the State Education Officer visited all schools, some were visited twice. Senior Officers pay special atten¬ tion to the remote schools, which in some instances are “hidden away many hours by outboard motor boat and canoe (perahu) up Brunei’s multitudinous rivers and they endeavour to make one visit coincide with the annual Parents’ Day celebrations. This - day in kampong (villages) lucky enough to have schools, is the 'high spot’ of the year, and the whole village is ‘en fete’. The clay opens with an exhibition of school work. Every pupil puts up a specimen of his handwriting, a drawing in black and white, pa tels, or water colour. The older pupils also put up samples of work clone in handicraft and handwork classes, such as baskets, articles produced in carpentry and net making sessions, wooden models of canoes, household utensils, and carvings of common objects. Girls put up specimens of lacework and sewing. In addition there is a display of vegetables from the school garden. An important part of the whole display is the judging; which is done by local people chosen from the School Committee. Perhaps the most important event of Parents’ Day is the school sports, which are held in the afternoon. Events are included for the older people. The programme is made up of track events, both for teams and individuals; drill displavs, in¬ cluding the forming of pyramids; comical competitions and other games. The day is finally rounded off with the distribution of prizes which are purchased from funds provided by the villagers. Villagers are always very keen to put up a good sum for Parents’ Dav; for not only do they provide the prizes but also the hospi- tality for those who come from afar. As a rule a bullock is killed for the occasion. Parents’ Day brings the school and the parents into very close sympathy and co-operation; the parents, in fact, are in complete charge of the occasion. All Malay vernacular schools are mixed schools; the reason being that, as yet, there is a lack of trained women teachers. Two became available in June and have been posted one each to the two largest schools. It is hoped that these trained
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