The Impact of COVID-19 Towards Development of Teaching and Learning in Brunei Darussalam with Specific Reference to Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB)

Abstract

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools and universities to close and that has impacted an unprecedented number of academicians, teachers as well as the students. Without any exception, Brunei Darussalam too, nevertheless has been affected by this pandemic. In Brunei Darussalam, there is only one teacher training university which is called Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College) which is also known as "KUPU SB". This article will analyze the impact of COVID-19 in the development of teaching and learning at KUPU SB. The Brunei Health Ministry announced that the sultanate's first COVID-19 case was detected on 9th March 2020. Since the number of cases was increasing rapidly, on 17th March 2020, the Ministry of Health declared that "any individual arriving in Brunei," including a Bruneian coming from abroad, would have to "self-isolate" for two weeks or would face a penalty of "imprisonment up to a period of 6 months, or a fine up to $10,000. Or both" (Bodetti, 2020).
Apart from enforcing some laws, on March 23 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs further tightened restrictions that already amounted to some of the toughest in Southeast Asia, blocking all foreign entrants as well as entry to restaurants (Bodetti, 2020). To contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced school closure on March 11th 2020, about one week before the school holiday period (Othman, 2020). This included all international schools, primary and secondary schools, colleges as well as the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education; as well as schools and university such as KUPU SB which are under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Religious Affairs (Othman, 2020). Since then, activities such as mass gatherings as well as social meetings were all prohibited. Physical distancing and personal hygiene were advocated and publicly emphasized for all citizens in Brunei Darussalam. Via social media, the public was frequently reminded on maintaining a high level of personal hygiene and frequent hand-washing with clean water and soap or by using disinfectant such as hand-sanitizers. The government has shown the "One National" approach in containing and breaking the chain of COVID-19 infection. (Suhaili, 2020).