HUNDREDS of young schoolchildren were delighted as His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam visited their school in the Belait District yesterday where many, if not all, waited patiently in anticipation to greet their beloved ruler in person.

As part of a scheduled visit after consenting to present house key plaques to the housing scheme recipients in an earlier ceremony, the beloved monarch took time to interact with students currently studying at Pengiran Setia Jaya Negara Pengiran Abdul Momin Primary School in Kuala Belait whose student population currently stands at 622, with 17 teaching staff.

Making up a good portion of the morning’s visit, His Majesty consented to take almost a one-hour tour of the school where His Majesty was greeted by the young students who, under the guidance of their teachers, invested their time in a programme for the monarch that consisted of several presentations on topics such as their extra-curricular activities and what they have been taught in their respective classrooms.

His Majesty’s arrival at the primary school was greeted by the principal, Dyg Rabizah binti Awg Haji Ibrahim who also accompanied His Majesty throughout the tour.

His Majesty consented to take a closer look at the school’s classrooms and laboratories where the students, poised and ready, greeted His Majesty with an enthusiastic good morning gesture followed with a number of interactions with the monarch, who took a keen interest in the students’ academic and self-development activities.

The school is also one of the first government schools in the district to be rendered as a Model Inclusive School (MIS) when a special block was built in 2010 for this purpose. His Majesty then consented to tour the MIS facilities, among others a Multi-Sensory Room, Life-Skill Training Room and an ICT Room. With eight facilities altogether, the special school block currently houses 22 special needs children.

Towards the end of the visit to the school, His Majesty also consented to take a group photo with the school’s academic and non-academic staff as the students looked on.

His Majesty then consented to visit the Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar Secondary School where His Majesty toured the available facilities and infrastructure.

His Majesty’s first stop was the school library, where His Majesty witnessed an on-going class which made use of current technologies to aid the teaching such as laptops, computers and projectors.

His Majesty then made way to visit some of the facilities such as a the Computer Lab; Food and Nutrition class which showcased delicacies prepared by the students; Home Science Class demonstrated various products prepared by the students using different sewing and beads design techniques.

The school hall was also decorated with booths and displays from different departments and extra-curricular clubs in the school.

The many cultures of a Belait indigenous group wedding were also demonstrated on the school stage, as well as a Taekwondo demonstration preceded by a group photo of His Majesty and the school staff.

His Majesty also shared a light moment with the students, all the while throughout the visit smiling and beaming with laughter as the students entertained His Majesty with their displays of special skills.

Throughout the tour at the Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar Secondary School, His Majesty was accompanied by the school’s principal Dyg Asmah binti Awg Tengah. - Borneo Bulletin (21 February 2013)