​Ministry of Education through the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre held a virtual ceremony for the 4^th National STEM and Innovative Design Challenge (NSIDC) 2021 Winners Announcement today.

Present as the Guest of Honour was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman, Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam.

Also present at the ceremony was Yang Mulia Datin Seri Paduka Dr. Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Deputy Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam.

The National STEM Challenge and  Innovative Design Challenge (NSIDC) is open to students in teams from government secondary schools, vocational and technical institutions as well as higher education institutions that have been supplied with DENFORD machines specifically for educational training. Participants will compete in producing F1 mini cars using software such as Autodesk Inventors, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) equipment with design process and creative art.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and a welcoming speech from the Chairperson of the event, Yang Mulia Pengiran Hajah Mas Joliwane binti Pengiran Haji Tejudin, Acting Head of STEP Centre, Ministry of Education.

A total of 46 teams from 26 secondary schools and 2 higher education institutions participated in two categories, namely:

1.      Formula One Junior Class Category: for secondary school students.

2.      Formula One Senior Class Category: for students of Sixth Form, Technical & Vocational Centres and Higher Education Institutions.

In the Formula One Junior Class Category, all three teams from Sekolah Menengah Tanjong Maya won the Overall Champion Award. First Place winner was Team Krows who also received the Best Engineered Car Award. Team Rampager was  the First Runner Up and the Best Reaction Time Award while the Third Place was Team Nova Dragozz.

Meanwhile in the Formula One Senior Class Category, 'Pahlawan XXI' from Universiti Teknologi Brunei bagged the First Place Overall Champion, Best Engineered Car and Best Verbal Presentation. 'Anemo F1' from Pusat Tingkatan Enam Meragang was the First Runner Up Overall Champion and the Second Runner Up Overall Champion was 'Wira' from Universiti Teknologi Brunei.

Among those present during the ceremony was Permanent Secretary (Core Education), Deputy Permanent Secretary (Core Education), Heads of Departments, Senior officers from the Ministry of Education and participants.

The competition began in January 2021 with some changes to the elements and format as well as the school preparations in accordance with the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) set by the Ministry of Health. Teachers and students were also given guidance by the STEP Centre through guided participation throughout the program.