THE Deputy Raes of Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (Kupu SB) has raised concerns about students who only joined the education institution because they could not pursue their studies at the degree level.
Dr Hj Abdullah Hj Lampoh said that becoming religious teachers were not the students’ first choice, as a result, candidates who had no other choice are “forced” to enter Kupu SB and not because they wanted to.
The best candidates in the religious field also opted to study in other higher religious educational institutions in and outside of the country, he said.
Dr Hj Abdullah shared his views at the Second Religious Teachers’ Seminar, themed “Islamic Education Management and Administration in the Global Era” at Kupu SB.
“Kupu SB has proved that it is capable of producing enough religious teachers, however with the limitations that it faces, Kupu SB main challenge now is whether it is capable of increasing and maintaining the quality of its religious teachers”, he said while delivering his presentation “Religious Teaching Training in Brunei Darussalam: Contributions, Challenges and Hopes”.
Kupu SB hopes to be the first choice institution for those looking to pursue their studies and career as religious teachers.
Since its establishment in 1972 (previously known as Seri Begawan Religious Teaching College), and its upgrading to a university college status in 2007, Kupu SB has produced 4,095 trained religious teachers.
The education institution produced an average of 117 graduates a year, with the highest number of admissions in of 205 students in 2000.
He added that five per cent of the total number (198 people) of graduates were working with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“The number may be small, but it creates an impact, however small it is. This shows that graduate religious teachers’ are also capable of doing work not related to teaching when it is necessary,” he said.
Another achievement for Kupu SB is its first intake of 30 undergraduates in the Religious Teaching Higher Diploma programme, who will graduate this May.
Our situation now has changed, but the need for religion remains unchanged, the deputy raes said.
“Ways of teaching religion may change, our approach may be different but the need to ensure that children gain the necessary religious knowledge and skills are still there,” he said.
“We hope to get the best candidates for religious teachers, to equip them to be the best religious teachers and leaders in the community’s religious activities.”
“An ideal candidate is those from Arabic schools, as their background is appropriate for religious teaching,” he added.
He further said: “I am not saying that candidates from non-Arabic schools and non-religious schools are not suitable to be religious teachers, but Kupu SB wishes to attract the best candidates.”
Dr Hj Abdullah said that Kupu SB aims to produce religious teachers who are knowledgeable and pious based on the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jamaah and Mazhab Imam As-Syafie (Islamic school of thought) and upholding Islam as the official religion and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) as its national philosophy.
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