| Azlan Othman |
IT WAS a historic moment for 52-year-old International School Brunei (ISB) as His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam officiated the opening ceremony of its long-awaited new campus in Sungai Hanching yesterday.
His Majesty was welcomed upon arrival by a student playing violin with beating of Hadrah as accompaniment. The monarch then attended a reception held in the school’s 350-seater theatre where the ISB Primary School choir and ISB band played the Brunei national anthem.
It was followed by a tour to the theatre and sports complex where His Majesty mingled with the students. The monarch then visited the Eco Garden and the new 180-bed international boarding facility where His Majesty met with the international students residing at the ISB International Residence and offered to take selfies with them. Some of the boarders proudly showed His Majesty their rooms and living areas.
His Majesty affirmed the merits of ISB in seeking to attract international boarding students from around Asia, both as a way to attract foreign investment in Brunei and as a means to raise the profile of Brunei as an educational destination internationally.
Besides undertaking a tour of the school grounds, His Majesty took time out to watch a drama performance by some Year 10 students and to see the 25m FINA international swimming competition at the multi-purpose sports hall.
His Majesty also visited the outdoor social area and posed for a group photo with students at the Piano Steps. His Majesty’s children, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah as well as His Majesty’s grandson, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah also attended the photo session.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam being greeted on his arrival at the new International School Brunei campus in Sungai Hanching
His Majesty being greeted by ISB students. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam receiving a pesambah from ISB students
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam with His Roy-al Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah in a group photo with ISB students
The song ‘We Are The World’ echoed across the Piano Steps as His Majesty again received greetings from the students on his way to the pre-kindy, kindy and religious classes.
His Majesty signed a plaque commemorating his visit to ISB before cutting the ribbon to declare ISB officially open. The final act of the monarch’s visit was to spend time with the younger students of the Early Years Programme.
ISB’s academic credentials, with 90 per cent of ‘O’ Level and IGCSE Examination results showing higher grades of A* to C, were presented before His Majesty.
The monarch was also introduced to ISB’s International Baccalaureate students, most of whom expressed their enthusiasm for the new teaching, learning and living facilities.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISB, Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, thanked the students, parents and teachers “whose support has been an integral part to the school’s longevity”. As an educational establishment, “we must be able to prepare the future generation so that they are in the best position to meet any challenge and change coming their way,” he said.
“With this new school campus, I believe that ISB would be able to face the future confidently as an institution that offers world-class 21st Century learning facilities. ISB will continue to provide the future generations of Bruneians with outstanding education, equipping each and every student with the tools that are required by them to become global citizens as well as important assets not only to the country but also to the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Steven P Geraghty, ISB Executive Principal, said the school is privileged to have this building and considers it as one of the nicest things the school has ever seen. He lauded the students, teachers and staff, saying that “they are the best”.
Also present yesterday were the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong; Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman; Minister of Development, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah; Deputy Minister of Education, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; and Deputy Minister of Development, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar; and other senior government officials.
For ISB, the momentous occasion is a source of much pride and the culmination of decades of hard work and perseverance.
The school, which started with three students in 1964, has developed to become the longest-established international school in Brunei and one of the premier international schools in Asia, now educating 1,450 students from 39 different countries.
The school was founded as a home school by Datin Glass, wife of a senior government official. The school grew rapidly, and by 1970 had moved to a bigger site provided by the government at Tapak Kuda. More student growth necessitated relocation to a bigger campus, and the government provided land at Jalan Dato Haji Ahmad, Berakas in 1985.
The school was officially opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna on March 9, 1986, eight years after securing the lease.
Over the next 30 years, ISB became a household name, renowned for the provision of excellent academic, cultural and sporting achievements while maintaining its inclusive academic philosophy. However, having outgrown the Berakas campus, plans for a move were formulated in 2002, culminating in the present move to the Sungai Hanching campus.
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