MINISTER: STUDENTS’ LITERACY IMPROVED
PROGRAMMES to improve the literacy level of students have shown improvements in their reading
skills, said the Education Minister.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong said the
Integrated Approach of Reading Acquisition (TIARA) and ’Kaedah Gabungan Bunyi Kata’ (KGBK)
have seen some progress.
For TIARA, the minister said the expectations have been promising following diagnostic tests
conducted during February and June this year.
During the launch of the ministry’s reading campaign, he said TIARA focuses on listening, speaking
and reading and writing skills among pupils from pre-school to Year three.
For Year one students, there has been a 10.5 per cent increase from March to June.
For Year two students, test results have shown a jump from 33.6 per cent to 42.06 per cent, while
Year 3 students improved from 47.08 percent to 54.6 per cent.
For the KGBK, Year one students have also increased from 37.2 per cent in January to 65.4 per cent
in May.
KGBK involves a systematic reading programme in Malay for Year one pupils, where the programme
has 12 skill levels. Students at Level Six learn reading skills, while at levels 11 and 12, they gain
understanding.
He said 75 per cent of students in Year one had achieved level six and above, while 60 per cent were
already at level 11 and 12.
Despite the positive improvements and the 90 per cent literacy rate in the country, the minister said
we should not remain satisfied with such figures, as the numbers were not indicative of a strong
reading culture.
“It is not an accurate picture as other developed nations where reading is seen as a daily habit. It is
with this national reading campaign that we hope we will be able to generate this culture of reading at
all levels of society in this country,” said the minister.
He said such a culture would only be possible if all parties are involved, and that there is no excuse
for anyone to say it is difficult to obtain reading materials in this digital era.
NABILAH HARIS
The Brunei Times, Sunday 17 November 2013
HAPPENINGS
18 Oct 2013
26- 30 Oct 2013
3 Nov 2013
5 Nov 2013
8 Nov 2013
8-10 Nov 2013
8-10 Nov 2013
10 Nov 2013
12 Nov 2013
Royal Brunei new DreamLiner flight to Singapore
ASEAN Expo: towards building a sustainable trade community
Panaga Triathlon Olympics 2013
st
1 Muharram 1435
Amateur Football Club Grassroots Football Festival, Belapan Track
th
His Majesty’s 67 Birthday International Amateur Open, RBA Golf Club
Learning Ladders Charity Expo, Gadong Mall
nd
2 Brunei Scorpion Urban warriors challenge
Public Works Department awarded the ASEAN Excellent Engineering
Achievement Award.
To page 8
Wadah Perpustakaan Bil.11, Nov 2013
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