ENTREPRENEURSHIP education will be made compulsory for Year 7 and 8 students by 2012, as part of the changes made under the 21st Century National Education System, a senior Ministry of Education official said yesterday.
The entrepreneurship education will be introduced under the Business and Technology component, said Hj Mohd Daud Hj Mahmud, permanent secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education.
"In its efforts to provide an all-round development of the individual through quality education, the ministry recognises that entrepreneurship education will set a firm foundation for Brunei in order to become an entrepreneurial society," he said during the launching of LiveWIRE Brunei Business Awards 2008-2009 at Sheraton Utama Hotel.
Speaking on behalf of Datin Paduka Apsah Hj Abdul Majid, permanent secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education, he said that the ministry welcomes the LiveWIRE Business Awards programme in promoting entrepreneurship among students.
"The LiveWIRE Business Awards programme to promote entrepreneurship for our young students is most welcomed by MoE because it will serve as an alternative incentive for the students in order to do well in their business subject," he said.
More than 2,500 young Bruneians have participated in LiveWIRE Brunei and more than 200 of these participants have set up their own businesses.
"This is certainly a very impressive success rate achieved by the LiveWIRE Brunei programmes," he said.
Meanwhile, Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) plans to introduce a customised coaching and mentoring programme for their local vendors by 2009 in supporting the government's vision to facilitate a dynamic local business sector, particularly with the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
To date, 90 per cent of BSP's business transactions are conducted with Bruneian companies, said BSP Deputy Managing Director Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Mohd Ali.
He said that some of the vendors have even taken the experience working with BSP to pursue business ventures abroad and have successfully won contracts in specialised areas in the oil and gas industry.
"By targeting awareness, promotional and skill-building activities designed to nurture and encourage young, start-up entrepreneurs, LiveWIRE Brunei directly complements our ongoing initiatives to assist maturing and established local businesses," said the deputy managing director, who is also the chairman of LiveWIRE Brunei programme.
He spoke of the global financial crisis, where he remarked that with every crisis comes opportunity. Apart from acquiring the appropriate business acumen and skills, entrepreneurs need to portray the right attitude and mental toughness to survive and overcome the crisis, he said.
This year, the LiveWIRE Brunei Business Awards 2008-2009 will see the introduction of the focused industry award, where contestants would be given extra points for business plans which fall under industries such as agriculture, tourism, education, fisheries and environment.
The initiative was aimed at encouraging participants to produce business plans which make a difference and will contribute to the country's national interests. The closing date for entries is August 14, 2009.
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