(Bandar Seri Begawan, 6th) Recently, Chung Hwa Middle School Brunei held a Dizigui (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) learning course for its sixth-grade primary students, aiming to pass on and promote traditional Chinese culture and strengthen moral education. The course was held from November 12th this year and lasted for two days, with lecturers from the Brunei Harmony Association invited to teach at the school.
The event aimed to guide Chung Hwa students to revere virtue and uphold etiquette by deeply understanding the essence of Dizigui in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere through a series of educational activities such as classic recitation, role-playing, and practical life experiences—thus cultivating good moral character and behavioral habits.
At the opening ceremony on November 12th, the school's principal, Ms. Hoo Guek Lan, first expressed, on behalf of the school, thanks to Ms. Lim Mui Eng, Chairperson of the Brunei Harmony Association, and all the instructors who thoughtfully prepared the Dizigui course activities.
She said that the school organizes the Dizigui learning course every year, not only to help students get closer to the outstanding traditional Chinese culture through reading, but more importantly, to subtly guide them in comprehending principles of conduct and learning methods for dealing with matters. Especially at the primary level—when students' minds are pure and their character is being formed, which is the golden period for personal development—learning Dizigui is meant to plant good intentions, cultivate etiquette, and develop gratitude from an early age, which has far-reaching significance for students' growth.
Principal Hoo pointed out that the Brunei Harmony Association has long been committed to promoting Chinese culture and collaborates closely with the school every year, bringing the wisdom of Dizigui to campus. The professional guidance and selfless dedication of the Association’s teachers have enriched the course content and, through classic recitation, nurtured students’ temperaments and formed good moral character and behavioral habits. This holds irreplaceable value in nurturing a new generation with both an international outlook and a strong sense of cultural identity.
Principal Hoo emphasized that the inheritance of culture lies in immersion and values practice. By systematically learning Dizigui, students not only gain knowledge but also nurture mind and body and increase their wisdom in subtle ways. She hopes that the students can apply what they learn, integrate the wisdom of Dizigui into their words and actions, and make “filial piety, brotherly love, prudence, and trustworthiness” not just a code of conduct but also a cultural force that nurtures character, warms families, and brings harmony to the campus. “The true essence of learning the classics lies not in how many verses you can recite, but in whether you can put the spiritual substance into practice, strictly demand of yourself, and form good behavioral and moral habits,” she added.
It is reported that this Dizigui course was jointly organized by the Brunei Harmony Association, and received enthusiastic response and active participation from the school’s teachers and students. Over the years, through the joint efforts of the Brunei Harmony Association and the school, the Dizigui learning course at Chung Hwa Primary School has achieved remarkable results. Students have not only mastered the basic knowledge of Dizigui but have also gradually formed good moral character and behavioral habits.