In the period leading up to its independence in 1984, Brunei developed four successive education policies from 1954 to 1984. The 1962 and 1972 policies faced challenges due to deteriorating relations with Malaysia, which impacted Brunei's efforts to implement Malay as the primary language of teaching. Prior to the formation of Malaysia, Brunei benefited from close educational collaboration with Malaya, but strained relations after Brunei's refusal to join Malaysia hindered the execution of these policies. This highlights how foreign political forces, rather than internal dynamics as seen in countries like Malaysia, India, and Sri Lanka, played a significant role in shaping the success or failure of Brunei's education programs.
Before 1950, Brunei's education system provided only basic education, with slow expansion due to prioritisation of economic development and other issues. Public awareness of the value of formal education was low, and the Malay educational system largely prepared students for low-status jobs, with the highest level being sixth grade. This limitation on educational opportunities hindered local youth from advancing and contributed to slower national progress. British officials intentionally maintained this restricted education program to preserve their control and prevent local youth from pursuing higher education and challenging the existing social and political structure.
Kampong Ayer, the ancient administrative centre, government, and Islamic culture in Brunei, is where traditional education got its start. Islamic teachings prior to 1906 were the main focus of early education programs offered via balai education systems in mosques and balai-balai (hall for study, communal prayer, hadrah, and religious studies). In the balai education system, students sit in a circle called "beliun," with the teacher positioned on the side ("siring"). The students gather daily after the Zuhr prayer for religious studies, focusing on Quran recitation. The duration for each topic is at the teacher's discretion, and students can request breaks if they feel tired ("singal").
Due to the shortage of educational resources in the old balai system of schooling, the teacher's capacity to communicate understanding was essential. Writing abilities and memorisation capacity were used to evaluate the success of the students. Local and international professors used literature on Sufism, Fiqh, Tauhid, Akhlak, and other Islamic disciplines to teach the students. With the arrival of the British Resident administration, Brunei saw the introduction of a dualistic educational system: the new non-religious system, which covered subjects like science and mathematics and functioned on their own of religious components in Malay, Chinese, and English schools, replaced the already present Islamic religious education system, which concentrated on religious studies.
Due to a shortage of professionals in the sector, the first Malay primary school was founded in 1914 with the intention of offering formal education, including instruction in basic reading and writing in Roman script. Because no dedicated structure had been constructed, this school temporary began operations in the mosque of Brunei Town. The mosque was the best location for educational activity at the time. at reality, teaching at the mosque will not only reassure parents that this new education system does not violate religious law, but it also pique their interest in allowing their kids to participate in the newly introduced education system.
At the time, there were thirty pupils, all of whom were male. The school was then relocated to the old building. The Brunei Town Malay school closed for a few weeks in 1915 as a result of the inability to find a suitable substitute for a deceased teacher. To house the current school, a school and teacher's residence were constructed in the same year. The old Lapau has been replaced with a new one, and the Front Hall with its stone pillars was then operational.
To provide more regular schooling for their children, the Chinese community in Brunei Town, also founded a Chinese school in 1916, located in a shophouse. There are 38 students enrolled in this institution as of right now. Mandarin is the language of instruction at this school. Children in Brunei receive an education in English schools in addition to their Islamic, Malay, and Chinese studies. Those who need an English education until the establishment of English government schools were forced to attend mission schools or travel overseas. The government sends students to Labuan who are enrolled in English-language schools abroad. Since 1919, this service has been made to two students annually. That went on until 1941.
Chung Hwa Middle School, the oldest Chinese school in Brunei today, was founded in 1922. A government-run English school was supposed to be established in Brunei in the 1920s, but the proposal was put on hold because of worries that pupils attending English schoolsâÂÂwhich are primarily supervised by Christian administratorsâÂÂmight be influenced by Christian doctrine. Bruneian wazir dignitaries consisting of Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman, Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Muhammad Yassin and Pengiran Shahbandar Pengiran Anak Hashim, took the decision to start officially teaching religious topics at a Malay school at Jalan Pemancha, in 1931, realising the need of religious education. The first girls' school, the Raja Isteri Girls' High School (STPRI), was established in 1930