The first runner-up, Al’ Amin Husaini. – PHOTOS: IZAH AZAHARI

 

|     Izah Azahari     |

ST MARGARET’S School’s Mohammad Azhan Dr Haji Airwan emerged as the champion of the 9th Brunei English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) Oratory Competition yesterday, topping seven other finalists at the Badi’ah Hotel’s Bahtera Hall.

In attendance were Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Nawi, Acting Director-General at the Ministry of Education, Datin Hajah Khadijah binti Haji Akbar, President of BELTA, as well as committee members of BELTA, teachers and students.

St Andrew’s School’s Al’ Amin Husaini bagged second place while Goh Yi Xuan from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College came in third place.

In his speech, Haji Abdul Rahman highlighted the objectives of the competition which were to celebrate and showcase the benefits of public speaking such as to inform, educate, entertain and persuade an audience, as well providing upper secondary students the chance to represent their school and demonstrate their ability to reason through the articulation of constructive and positive insight.

“These objectives are aligned with the Ministry of Education’s aims to equip our students with 21st-Century skills. These skills are important as preparation for pre-university studies as well as tertiary education,” Haji Abdul Rahman said.

Haji Abdul Rahman also highlighted BELTA’s initiative in providing a platform for students and hoped its unwavering effort will get the support of other non-government organisations.

Other students that made it to the finals were Jesperena Chin of St Angela’s School, Jan Ee Ning of Chung Hwa Middle School, Nur Haziqah binti Awang Ahmad of St James’ School, Muhd Nurdhiyauddin bin Haji Nudin of Berakas Secondary School, and Muhammad Lutfil Hadi bin Haji Mohammad of Seri Mulia Sarjana School.