(Kuala Belait, 16th) — Chairman of the Board of St. John’s School, Lee Rong Hua, stated in his speech at last night’s 95th Anniversary School Celebration Banquet that since its founding in 1930, St. John’s School has grown alongside the petroleum industry, local community, and the nation. It has played an important and far-reaching role in the educational development of Kuala Belait and the whole of Brunei.
He pointed out that St. John’s School was founded in 1929, not long after the oilfields in Seria began development, and is among the oldest schools in Brunei’s history. The school has continually evolved from an early English private primary school into an institution that now offers the national curriculum up to secondary level, actively aligning with the nation’s developmental needs and contributing to the realization of 'Brunei Vision 2035' and its long-term goals.
Lee Rong Hua emphasized that throughout its ninety and a half years’ journey, the school has adhered to the mission of academic excellence, nurturing tens of thousands of local and international students. In the future, the school will continue to maintain excellent academic performance while placing greater emphasis on character-building and personal growth, and will continue to promote the values of diversity and inclusion, living out the mission of “With love we learn, with service we grow.”
He also noted that St. John’s School is a self-funded, non-profit educational institution that relies on voluntary fundraising and independent financial management, overseen and managed by a voluntary board of directors to ensure the school’s long-term and steady development. Each year, the school provides tuition fee reductions for students in need, giving back to society with real action. He sincerely thanked both past and present members of the board for their selfless devotion of personal and family time over the years, quietly contributing to the nurturing of the nation's future pillars.
Speaking about the school’s journey, Lee Rong Hua said that in nearly a century of development, St. John’s School has faced all sorts of challenges, yet has remained committed to its educational philosophy and kept moving forward—something truly remarkable. He described the perseverance and dedication of predecessors and generations of teachers and staff as the foundation of today’s St. John’s School, something everyone should cherish and be grateful for.
Looking to the future, he candidly admitted that with the rapid technological and societal changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and generative artificial intelligence, education will face even greater challenges. The school must not only maintain educational quality and academic excellence, but also place greater emphasis on developing students’ character and competencies, continuously invest in teacher professional development, enhance teaching resources, upgrade campus facilities and management systems, and strictly follow guidelines and policies issued by the Ministry of Education. He firmly believes that as long as everyone works together, the educational vision and mission of St. John’s School can be passed down for another 95 years.
Regarding recent academic achievements, he was delighted to announce that the school’s performance in this year’s Primary School Assessment (PSR) was outstanding, once again ranking in the top quarter. In addition, students from the school participated in this year’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, standing out among 53,434 entries from 56 member countries, winning three silver awards and one bronze award—remarkable results that fully demonstrate the potential of the students and the teaching prowess of the faculty. He extended his congratulations to all the award recipients and outstanding PSR candidates.
Finally, Lee Rong Hua expressed heartfelt thanks to the principal, all teachers and staff, and students for their hard work in preparing the evening’s celebration, and especially saluted parents and guardians, thanking them for their continuous support of both their children and the school—including preparing attire and necessities for the students and fully cooperating with the event. He said parental love and involvement are among the key forces behind the school’s success.
The banquet came to a successful close after a series of wonderful performances and programs, with hosts and guests gathering together in a warm and joyful atmosphere, writing a beautiful chapter for the 95th anniversary celebration of St. John’s School.
He pointed out that St. John’s School was founded in 1929, not long after the oilfields in Seria began development, and is among the oldest schools in Brunei’s history. The school has continually evolved from an early English private primary school into an institution that now offers the national curriculum up to secondary level, actively aligning with the nation’s developmental needs and contributing to the realization of 'Brunei Vision 2035' and its long-term goals.
He also noted that St. John’s School is a self-funded, non-profit educational institution that relies on voluntary fundraising and independent financial management, overseen and managed by a voluntary board of directors to ensure the school’s long-term and steady development. Each year, the school provides tuition fee reductions for students in need, giving back to society with real action. He sincerely thanked both past and present members of the board for their selfless devotion of personal and family time over the years, quietly contributing to the nurturing of the nation's future pillars.
Speaking about the school’s journey, Lee Rong Hua said that in nearly a century of development, St. John’s School has faced all sorts of challenges, yet has remained committed to its educational philosophy and kept moving forward—something truly remarkable. He described the perseverance and dedication of predecessors and generations of teachers and staff as the foundation of today’s St. John’s School, something everyone should cherish and be grateful for.
Looking to the future, he candidly admitted that with the rapid technological and societal changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and generative artificial intelligence, education will face even greater challenges. The school must not only maintain educational quality and academic excellence, but also place greater emphasis on developing students’ character and competencies, continuously invest in teacher professional development, enhance teaching resources, upgrade campus facilities and management systems, and strictly follow guidelines and policies issued by the Ministry of Education. He firmly believes that as long as everyone works together, the educational vision and mission of St. John’s School can be passed down for another 95 years.
Regarding recent academic achievements, he was delighted to announce that the school’s performance in this year’s Primary School Assessment (PSR) was outstanding, once again ranking in the top quarter. In addition, students from the school participated in this year’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, standing out among 53,434 entries from 56 member countries, winning three silver awards and one bronze award—remarkable results that fully demonstrate the potential of the students and the teaching prowess of the faculty. He extended his congratulations to all the award recipients and outstanding PSR candidates.
Finally, Lee Rong Hua expressed heartfelt thanks to the principal, all teachers and staff, and students for their hard work in preparing the evening’s celebration, and especially saluted parents and guardians, thanking them for their continuous support of both their children and the school—including preparing attire and necessities for the students and fully cooperating with the event. He said parental love and involvement are among the key forces behind the school’s success.
The banquet came to a successful close after a series of wonderful performances and programs, with hosts and guests gathering together in a warm and joyful atmosphere, writing a beautiful chapter for the 95th anniversary celebration of St. John’s School.