Bruneian and Singaporean students recently showcased their heritage and customs as part of the Brunei Cultural Immersion Program 2018.
Earlier this week, a cohort of 20 students and three teachers from Singapore’s Temasek Secondary School visited Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM), located in Serasa, Brunei.
The Brunei Cultural Immersion Program sees students visit museums, learn about Brunei’s culture and interact with one another to gain a deeper understanding of one another’s backgrounds.
SMPIHM principal, Cikgu Omar Arif bin Abdullah Lasit, welcomed the delegation from Singapore, saying the visit would strengthen the friendship between the two islands that already enjoyed “the strongest ties”.
“I believe both our schools will be able to increase our understanding towards and respect for both Bruneian and Singaporean culture, as well as broadening our global awareness of how we work, live and play – in which this is one of the program’s main objectives,” the Borneo Bulletin reported Cikgu Omar Arif as saying.
“We at SMPIHM build up the culture of caring toward each other as well as with the school community. We always believe that we are one big family.”
He also thanked the Department of Schools at the Ministry of Education which helped organise the cultural immersion program through its Extra-Curricular Activities Unit.
During the visit, the delegation from Singapore also had the opportunity to learn the history of the school and witness cultural exhibitions and activities held at the school’s multi- purpose hall.
The Temasek Secondary School students were divided into four groups for the school tour, where they visited the school reading room, surau and library, and also watched a short video and slide show.