History Of MSPSBS

HISTORY OF MAKTAB SAINS PADUKA SERI BEGAWAN SULTAN

MAKTAB SAINS PADUKA SERI BEGAWAN SULTAN is one of the most reputable educational institutions in Negara Brunei Darussalam. Students who are high achievers in the Primary Certificate of Education from throughout the country can enter the college in Form One and stay on until they finished the GCE 'A' Level Examination. However, in 1995 the policy was changed whereby only students from the Brunei Muara District is accepted. The school is reputed for its high standard in academic performance excellent achievement in co-curricular activities.

Foundation

The school was estabished at Jalan Muara, Negara Brunei Darussalam in 1969 with classes up to Lower Six (First Year of the A Level course) in the Malay Medium. This led to the opening of its first Upper Sixth Form in the 1970. 23rd September 1971 was the hallmark in the history of the school as it was officially opened by Al-Marhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien and named Maktab Melayu Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan. This was befitting, as the 28th Sultan was intrumental in raising the standard of education in Negara Brunei Darussalam.

The concept of integration was implemented in 1974. The changing of the name of the college to Maktab Melayu Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan/Sekolah Sains in 1978 saw the beginning of a revolution in education of Negara Brunei Darussalam. Quality education was no more prerogative for urban children. High achievers or calibers students from every corner of the state, however remote, were then and still selected to enter the college. They were provided with qualified teachers and modern equipments while greater emphasis was given to science and mathematics to prepare them for the GCE 'O' Level Examination.

The college was renamed as Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan in 1985 as its status was raised to a college to include the Sixth Form in the English Medium.

His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah was enrolled as a Secondary One Student on 27th March 1986.

The first intake of the Sixth Form Students took place on 26th April 1986. Princess Hajah Rashidah Bolkiah was among the students enrolled and she and her batch graduated the following year.

Maktab Sains was one of the two schools in the country to be chosen to launch the full day school scheme. In 1990 afternoon tutorial classes, which also provided supervised homework, were held from 2 to 4 o'clock. The following year, the afternoon session was used for enrichment programmes, which proved to be beneficial to all.

In 2007, the afternoon classes for Form 1 were held for the first time in the college's history due to the shortage of morning classes. The following year, the Form 1 students was the first badge to held the SPN in Brunei.

New Campus

The Ministry of Education and the Principal, Cikgu Hajah Norjum Binti Haji Mohd Yussop decided that the it is the time to move the school to a new campus. The College building at Jalan Muara needed renovation. A larger site was also needed to accomodate the growing population of students. The school was moved to Kampong Rimba, Gadong on 3rd Fabruary 1994. The present building has all the modern facilities such as well-equipped science, computer and language laboratories.

At the beginning of 1995, the policy of the college to accomodate only the students from Maktab Sains in the Sixth Form classes was changed. The students from other schools were taken in. This has brought about a healthy competitions among the Sixth Formers and there is a noticable 'give and take' attitude among the senior students of the college.

The saga of striving for excellence in every aspect of a student's life goes on as the college continues to play a vital role in the educational field of Negara Brunei Darussalam.