(Bandar Seri Begawan, 6th) Looking ahead to the challenges of the next decade towards 2035, not only is the commitment of the Legislative Council required, but also collective participation from public service agencies, private enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and all strata of Bruneian society to realize Brunei Vision 2035 and abide by the instructions of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Legislative Council member Pehin Dato Seri Awang Haji Adanan pointed out at the 21st Legislative Council's 2nd session on Monday that the nation is facing multiple challenges and put forward a range of constructive opinions as important references for the government to strengthen the framework of the three development blueprints (social, manpower, and economy).
He stated that a key challenge in the 'Manpower Blueprint' is that about 6,000 to 7,000 graduates enter the job market annually. However, according to JobCentre Brunei data as of June 30, there are currently 13,710 active job seekers, with a youth unemployment rate of 16.8%, including 5,033 university graduates with at least a bachelor's degree.
This highlights the disconnect between the current education system and industry needs, with academic curricula and required skills not matching up.
Pehin Awang Haji Adanan asked whether there has ever been a comprehensive review of the education system and its curricula to ensure alignment with the current and future needs of the nation and industries, thus enhancing graduates' employment prospects.
He suggested that authorities closely monitor the 'Graduate Career Matching Platform' and identify key skill areas through systematic planning, as well as strengthen education and apprenticeship programs such as SKiPPA and i-Ready.
He further suggested that those who meet service standards and perform excellently should be prioritized for permanent positions, to curb talent loss and maximize the effectiveness of professional talents.
At the same time, he emphasized that upskilling and reskilling measures should be implemented to cultivate a more adaptive, results-oriented workforce.
According to the blueprint, in 2021 there were 3,849 people classified as 'NEET' (not in employment, education, or training), a group considered to have low productivity and at risk of becoming an intergenerational poverty burden.
He suggested establishing alternative learning pathways, such as 'work-based learning' provided jointly by public-private partnerships, non-governmental organizations, and industry, to broaden youth employment avenues.
He also questioned whether the implementation of the three blueprints, especially the 'Social Blueprint', could fully internalize 'Maqasid Syariah' (the objectives of Islamic law) as a core principle to guide strategic outcome adjustments and administrative policy orientation.
In addition, he queried whether the assessment tools or indicators currently used by the government are aligned with international best practices (such as the Gini coefficient and other measures of income/wealth inequality).
Despite the government providing substantial support through the national welfare scheme (SKN) and zakat assistance issued by the Zakat, Religious Donations and Fund Management Agency (JUZWAB), public dependency on government aid remains high.
As of April 2024, among 10,041 aid recipients, 7,375 were able-bodied individuals.
He asked: “Besides the existing assistance programs, what more effective measures can help this group escape poverty?”
Pehin Awang Haji Adanan also pointed out that according to the 2024 ASEAN Investment Report, Brunei's foreign direct investment (FDI) dropped from USD 300 million in 2022 to USD 100 million in 2023, the lowest in ASEAN.
He stressed that as FDI is an important driver of the nation's economic growth, with spillover and multiplier effects, Brunei must adopt a more proactive, strategic, innovative, and competitive approach to attract high-quality, high-tech investors for substantial impact.
Legislative Council member Pehin Dato Seri Awang Haji Adanan pointed out at the 21st Legislative Council's 2nd session on Monday that the nation is facing multiple challenges and put forward a range of constructive opinions as important references for the government to strengthen the framework of the three development blueprints (social, manpower, and economy).
He stated that a key challenge in the 'Manpower Blueprint' is that about 6,000 to 7,000 graduates enter the job market annually. However, according to JobCentre Brunei data as of June 30, there are currently 13,710 active job seekers, with a youth unemployment rate of 16.8%, including 5,033 university graduates with at least a bachelor's degree.
This highlights the disconnect between the current education system and industry needs, with academic curricula and required skills not matching up.
Pehin Awang Haji Adanan asked whether there has ever been a comprehensive review of the education system and its curricula to ensure alignment with the current and future needs of the nation and industries, thus enhancing graduates' employment prospects.
He suggested that authorities closely monitor the 'Graduate Career Matching Platform' and identify key skill areas through systematic planning, as well as strengthen education and apprenticeship programs such as SKiPPA and i-Ready.
He further suggested that those who meet service standards and perform excellently should be prioritized for permanent positions, to curb talent loss and maximize the effectiveness of professional talents.
At the same time, he emphasized that upskilling and reskilling measures should be implemented to cultivate a more adaptive, results-oriented workforce.
According to the blueprint, in 2021 there were 3,849 people classified as 'NEET' (not in employment, education, or training), a group considered to have low productivity and at risk of becoming an intergenerational poverty burden.
He suggested establishing alternative learning pathways, such as 'work-based learning' provided jointly by public-private partnerships, non-governmental organizations, and industry, to broaden youth employment avenues.
He also questioned whether the implementation of the three blueprints, especially the 'Social Blueprint', could fully internalize 'Maqasid Syariah' (the objectives of Islamic law) as a core principle to guide strategic outcome adjustments and administrative policy orientation.
In addition, he queried whether the assessment tools or indicators currently used by the government are aligned with international best practices (such as the Gini coefficient and other measures of income/wealth inequality).
Despite the government providing substantial support through the national welfare scheme (SKN) and zakat assistance issued by the Zakat, Religious Donations and Fund Management Agency (JUZWAB), public dependency on government aid remains high.
As of April 2024, among 10,041 aid recipients, 7,375 were able-bodied individuals.
He asked: “Besides the existing assistance programs, what more effective measures can help this group escape poverty?”
Pehin Awang Haji Adanan also pointed out that according to the 2024 ASEAN Investment Report, Brunei's foreign direct investment (FDI) dropped from USD 300 million in 2022 to USD 100 million in 2023, the lowest in ASEAN.
He stressed that as FDI is an important driver of the nation's economic growth, with spillover and multiplier effects, Brunei must adopt a more proactive, strategic, innovative, and competitive approach to attract high-quality, high-tech investors for substantial impact.