HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), yesterday expressed disappointment that some parents and guardians are still not giving proper attention to their children’s attendance in school.

This should not be the case, His Majesty said, adding that there were other issues such as discipline and monitoring the children’s activities outside school hours that needed the parents and guardians’ attention.

His Majesty said the failure of parents and guardians to give appropriate attention to their children’s education could mean that the nation could not achieve its objective to produce an excellent generation.

The monarch highlighted these matters in a titah at the 26th Convocation of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.

Meanwhile, His Majesty noted that higher learning institutions are the heart of the nation’s development.

His Majesty congratulated UBD for securing a place in the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Asia University ranking this year, saying that this achievement showed that UBD was maturing and had gained international recognition.

However, His Majesty reminded UBD and other higher learning institutions in the country to continue to strive to be among the top institutions in the world.

His Majesty said that this objective could not be achieved without the availability of high quality academicians.

As an encouragement, particularly to local academicians, His Majesty has consented to the establishment of the Skim Perkhidmatan Tenaga Akademik (Academic Services Scheme). Only academic staff who excel according to international standards will be included in the scheme.

On research, His Majesty noted that the Brunei Government had provided a Graduate Research Scholarship for local and international students. Yesterday’s convocation saw the conferment of the first doctorate under this scheme.

His Majesty said UBD also needed to plan to produce marketable graduates and independent entrepreneurs.

The establishment of the National Entrepreneurship Agenda in education early this year will inculcate entrepreneurship from early until tertiary education, His Majesty said.

His Majesty has also consented to the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Material and Energy Science to implement interdisciplinary scientific research to train human resources to meet the needs of high-tech industries. - Borneo Bulletin (7 September 2014)