Secondary Education_Old

 

The Level II lower secondary curriculum is devised as an alternative programme for students who are more inclined towards vocationally-oriented studies especially those who have sat for PSR twice and are still not able to fulfill the minimum passing rate. Designed to enable students to explore their abilities and develop their vocational/technical potential, the Level II curriculum consists of core and optional subjects.As of 2006, the PMB Level II Examination has been discontinued. Assessment of students in the Level II programme is now wholly school-based and carried out on a continuous and less formal basis. For Bahasa Melayu, Islamic Religious Knowledge and MIB, all lower secondary students cover the same curriculum. A new subject known as Al-Quran and Islamic Religious Knowledge (Al-Quran dan Pengetahuan Agama Islam – PAI) was introduced in selected secondary schools in January 2000. This was piloted in selected primary schools in 1994.The secondary level follows a two-phase stage: lower secondary and upper secondary. The lower secondary level covers three years of education at the end of which students sit for the Lower Secondary Assessment or Penilaian Menengah Bawah (PMB) examination.At the start of their secondary education, students are placed in either the mainstream or Level II programme according to how they perform at PSR. The different curricular emphases cater to the different learning abilities and inclinations. It is the aim of lower secondary education to prepare students for upper secondary and vocational/technical education and training.

 

The majority of students will proceed to ‘O’ level following the mainstream curriculum whilst the Level II caters for those who are motivated by a vocationally-oriented ​curriculum.​​

Education at the upper secondary level is general in nature with some provision for specialisation in science, arts and technical fields. At the end of the second year, high academic achievers may sit for the Brunei-Cambridge GCE Ordinary level (GCE ‘O’ Level) examination.Based on their PMB performance, students in the mainstream curriculum are placed in either the Science or Arts Stream. Level II students follow the Secondary Vocational Programme (Program Menengah Vokasional – PMV).The duration of schooling at these levels is either two or three years.

As of 2006, apart from the National  Vocational Certificate (NVC) in Clerical Studies, other options available to PMV students are the National Trade Certificate Grade 3 (NTC3) in various vocational subjects.

 

The PMV programme spans a period of 2 years, consisting of a 6-month foundation course, a one-year NVC/NTC3 course and a six-month attachment. All subjects are taught in English except Kemahiran Bahasa Melayu, Tarbiah Islam and Bimbingan Asas Etika Kerja.Students who have successfully completed PMV will be awarded a certificate in BDTVEC NVC or NTC3 which is recognized by the National Accreditation Council and the Public Service Commission.​