| Lyna Mohamad and Daniel Lim |
AS PART of a continuous effort by the Islamic Studies Department (JPI) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) to help instil Al-Insannussaleh among students across the country, the monthly National Religious Programme for religious schools was held across selected religious schools in the four districts in the country yesterday.
The programme was held under the theme ‘The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media’ for this month.
In the Brunei-Muara District, the programme was carried out at Sengkurong Religious School with a religious talk on the aforementioned theme by Ashraf bin Haji Ibrahim. In the Belait District, meanwhile, the programme was held at the Kuala Belait Religious School with a Tazkirah on the theme by the school’s trained religious teacher Rapiyah binti Haji Omar.
Over 70 Kuala Belait Religious School students ranging from pre-school to Primary IV accompanied by teachers and staff attended the programme.
Both talks highlighted that the use of the Internet has seen a very encouraging improvement and positive development in terms of IT literacy and that the purpose of social media is to facilitate communication; hence, if the platform is used with the right intentions, it will bring benefits, otherwise will lead to something useless and disadvantageous.
Among the advantages of social media highlighted at the talks included availability of information and convenience of sharing information; ability to communicate with friends and families regardless of distance and time; enabling individuals and organisations to promote products and services; online education; and doing business or banking transactions more conveniently.
The disadvantages of social media, meanwhile, included inaccurate information such as spreading rumours and dissemination of false information that can have a negative impact on the individual and society, exposure of security information and negative culture.
As influence of social media in today’s life is inevitable and has a great influence on students’ lives, Ashraf said relevant parties should take appropriate action to monitor social media use to ensure that students are not inclined to social problems.
Both events continued with the recitation of Surah Al-Waqi’ah, Doa Peperiksaan and Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Similar programmes were also held at the Penanjong Religious School in the Tutong District, and Puni Religious School in the Temburong District.