June 24, 2026
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Ministry of Education’s commitment to strengthening professional expertise and leadership in the education sector was underscored at the opening of the 5th Education Specialists Seminar 2026 at the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Brunei Darussalam on Tuesday.
Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh officiated the seminar, which carries the theme “Contemporary Specialisation in Educational Practices towards Education Excellence” and the sub-theme “Empowering Excellence through Specialisation in Education”.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal.
Organised by the Ministry of Education through the Department of Educators Management, the annual seminar brought together around 313 participants, including 28 Education Specialists, 137 Education Specialist candidates from primary, secondary and middle schools, as well as 148 school leaders.
Director of Educators Management Dayang Masdiah binti Awang Haji Tuah in her remarks highlighted the significance of the seminar in bringing together educators, leaders and stakeholders to advance excellence through specialisation in education.
She noted that as educational challenges become increasingly complex, there is a growing need for deep expertise and specialised knowledge. The Education Specialist Career Pathway, she said, was established to develop professionals capable of driving improvement, influencing educational practices and contributing to key areas of educational success.
Dayang Masdiah also shared that there are currently 28 Education Specialists serving within the national education system. She encouraged school leaders to maximise the expertise of specialists and promote the sharing of knowledge beyond individual institutions to create a broader impact across schools.
Appreciation was also extended to departments involved in the Specialist Work Attachment Programme (SWAP) for supporting the professional growth and development of specialists.
The seminar focuses on continuous learning, purposeful professional growth and the cultivation of expertise. The programme features a keynote address, specialist-sharing sessions and a personal mastery segment aimed at translating specialist knowledge into meaningful educational outcomes.
Dayang Masdiah concluded by encouraging participants to actively engage, collaborate and contribute towards building a professional community committed to learning, leadership and continuous improvement.
The keynote address, titled “Empowering Excellence: Nurturing Talent, Leadership and Specialisation in Education”, was delivered by President of the Human Resource Society Brunei Dayang Hajah Zainab binti M.A. Omar.
The session highlighted the importance of developing expertise, strengthening leadership capabilities and enhancing the strategic role of Education Specialists in supporting educational excellence and system-wide improvement.
A Learning Circle session led by the keynote speaker concluded the morning programme, providing participants with opportunities for interactive discussions and question-and-answer exchanges.
The seminar aims to strengthen the professional identity of Education Specialists as system-level practitioners contributing beyond the classroom, while building leadership capacity to influence educational practice, policy and innovation within their respective areas of expertise.
It also seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and shared understanding across specialisations, while enhancing specialists’ ability to translate their expertise into actionable impact within schools and across the Ministry of Education.
The afternoon programme featured a special segment titled “InsighTED: Specialist Voices Igniting Ideas, Inspiring Action”, which combined Ignite-style presentations with structured dialogue sessions.
Three Education Specialists shared their experiences, reflections and professional insights gained throughout their specialist journeys.
Acting Permanent Secretary (Core Education) Awang Aliuddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman attended the session as guest of honour.
The segment aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the role of Education Specialists as agents of change, encourage cross-specialisation collaboration and inspire practical ideas that can be implemented at both school and system levels.
A panel discussion titled “From Insight to Action – Translating Specialisation into Education Excellence” featured six Education Specialists from various disciplines who shared their experiences and best practices in applying specialist expertise to drive educational improvement.
Participants also attended a workshop on Practicing Personal Mastery, facilitated by the keynote speaker.
Held annually, the Education Specialists Seminar serves as a platform for Education Specialists, aspiring specialists and key stakeholders to exchange best practices, strengthen professional networks and explore innovative approaches to enhancing educational excellence through specialised expertise.
The seminar also reflects the Ministry of Education’s ongoing commitment to developing and strengthening the role of Education Specialists in supporting excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across Brunei Darussalam’s education system.