English Proficiency In Brunei: A Comprehensive Overview

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 455,858 as of 2023. The official language of Brunei is Malay, and it is used for most official purposes, in courts, and as a medium of instruction in schools. However, English is also widely spoken in the country and is used in business and official dealings. The Borneo Bulletin, an English-language newspaper, circulates in Brunei, and English is taught in schools from the fourth year of primary school onwards. As a result, all educated people in Brunei are proficient in English.

English as a medium of instruction

English is widely used in Brunei, and it is the medium of instruction for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onwards. The Bruneian government implemented a bilingual education policy in 1985, with Malay as the medium of instruction for the first three years of primary school. English then becomes the medium of instruction for most subjects, including mathematics, history, science, and geography.

English is viewed as the principal language of business in Brunei, and it is well-established, with all educated people being proficient in the language. The use of English in Brunei can be traced back to the country's time as a British protectorate from 1888 until its independence in 1984. Since then, the government has remained committed to its bilingual education policy, working with organisations such as the Education Development Trust to recruit high-quality English teachers and develop a range of English-related education projects.

The Education Development Trust has been working with the Ministry of Education in Brunei since 1984 to implement the bilingual education policy. The Trust recruits, orients, and manages qualified, experienced expatriate teachers of English, providing ongoing support and assurance. These teachers work with over 20,000 students across more than 80% of Brunei government schools. The Trust's focus is to support and extend the quality of education by placing these expert teachers in government schools to deliver innovative 21st-century teaching. They use data to design and deliver tailored intervention and support programmes for students and provide professional development for local teachers.

In addition to providing teachers, the Trust supports a range of English-related projects to improve language learning within and beyond the curriculum. They have developed materials for various age groups, including supporting the Ministry of Education in creating English language course books, through in-house publications, and English language teaching software. They also partner with local educational institutions, companies, and associations for events, research, conferences, and corporate social responsibility projects.

The Trust's specialised solution has transformed the performance of students, with more than half of the government school student cohort obtaining grades equivalent to native-speaker level (A*-C). This has resulted in an increase of more than 30% in a 10-year period, compared to a 5% increase in the previous decade.

While English is widely spoken in Brunei, there is a notable educational divide. Students who attend private schools and the best government schools usually achieve an excellent standard in English, while those who go to less fashionable schools often end up with only rudimentary skills in the language. This divide is also reflected in the wider population, with those in the younger generation and those working in the public sector generally having a better command of English than the elderly and those in rural areas.

English is the medium of instruction in Brunei, and it is widely used in education and across all working sectors. It is the dominant language in written communication, with most subjects in schools being taught in English. However, verbally, Malay is still the dominant language, and it continues to be the main spoken language in the country.

English in business

English is widely used as a language of business in Brunei and is spoken by a majority of the population. It is the main medium of instruction in most primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities. All official documents are reproduced in English, and the language of the courts is mainly English.

English has been the medium of instruction for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onwards since the introduction of the Bilingual Education Policy in 1985. In 2008, the new SPN21 education system was introduced, and from then on, maths and science have been taught in English from the start of primary school, further cementing the role of English in education.

The bilingual system of education has resulted in a substantial proportion of the population being proficient in English. However, there is variation in the level of English spoken, with those attending private schools and the best government schools usually achieving an excellent standard, while those attending less fashionable schools often end up with only rudimentary skills.

The use of English in business and education has contributed to its widespread use in Brunei, and it is often mixed with Malay in informal discourse. English is also used as a working language in business, with all official documents being reproduced in English. The language is well-established and continues to play a significant role in the country's education and professional sectors.

English in the legal system

English is widely used in Brunei's legal system, with the language of the courts being predominantly English. However, similar to Malaysia, code-switching between English and Malay is a common occurrence.

The bilingual system of education was introduced in Brunei in 1985, with the first three years taught in Malay, and English as the medium of instruction for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onwards. Since 2008, with the new SPN21 education system, maths and science have been taught in English from the start of primary school, further cementing the role of English in the country's education system. This has resulted in all school children having substantial exposure to English.

While formal English in Brunei is based on British English, American English is increasingly influencing the local variety, and Brunei English is starting to become distinct.

The use of Standard Malay and Brunei Malay can be described under the concept of diglossia, with Standard Malay being used in formal domains such as teaching and official speeches, and Brunei Malay being used in informal settings like conversations between friends or in local shops.

The promotion of both English and Malay in Brunei has led to a situation where minority languages, such as Tutong and Dusun, are being marginalised.

English in the education system

English is widely used in Brunei's education system. While Malay is the official language of Brunei, English is the main medium of instruction in most primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities. English is also the language of instruction for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onwards. In 2008, the new SPN21 education system was introduced, and maths and science have been taught in English from the start of primary school.

The bilingual system of education was introduced in 1985, with the first three years taught in Malay while English was the medium of instruction for most other subjects. All schoolchildren have had substantial exposure to English since then. English is also widely used in business, and all official documents are reproduced in English. It is spoken by a majority of the population in Brunei, though some have only a rudimentary knowledge of the language.

The education system in Brunei is provided or regulated by the Government of Brunei through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The former manages most government and private schools in the country, while the latter specifically administers government schools that provide Islamic religious education.

Compulsory education in Brunei may be of two types: general education, which takes twelve years and consists of preschool, primary, and secondary; and Islamic religious primary education, which lasts seven years and is compulsory for Muslim pupils. General education may be attained in government or private schools, while religious education is attained in government religious schools.

English is also the medium of instruction for pre-university education, which prepares students for the GCE 'A' Level, the Brunei-Cambridge Advanced Level Certificate of Education. All pre-university students must study English Language at an appropriate level.

The first school in Brunei was founded in 1914, and there has been a substantial expansion in the availability of education in the nation since then. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984, and numerous new efforts were launched with the goal of enhancing national identity and advancing human resources. However, the system did not realize its current organizational structure and curriculum coherence until 2007 with the launch of Wawasan Brunei 2035, a national vision for the nation, and the approval of Sistem Pendidikan Negara Abad ke-21 (SPN21), an objective for the national education system for the 21st century.

English in the media

English is widely used in the media in Brunei. The Borneo Bulletin, the country's first English-language newspaper, was established in 1953 and is still in circulation today, with an average of 20,000 copies distributed daily and 25,000 on weekends and Sundays. The newspaper industry in Brunei only began after the 1950s, with the first newspaper, Salam Seria, published in 1952 by the British Malayan Petroleum Company. The bilingual paper delivered news and information to its staff and the general public regarding oil exploration and other company news.

The second newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, was printed in Kuala Belait by the Brunei Press Company. Initially, most of its news concentrated on Borneo, with a special emphasis on Brunei. The newspaper is now published daily and includes the New Straits Times from Malaysia, The Straits Times from Singapore, and The New York Times International Edition.

The third publication, Pelita Brunei, was first published in 1956 and included a speech by His Majesty Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddien. The paper is now a weekly newspaper and has increased its content from about four pages to about 24 pages, with a second part containing all the government job vacancies and tenders.

The sultanate's first English-language daily newspaper, The Brunei Times, was published from 2006 until 2016 and had an international outlook.

The government of Brunei, through state broadcaster Radio Television Brunei (RTB), owns and operates three television channels and five radio stations. There is also one private radio station, Kristal FM, and an online campus radio station, UBD FM, that streams from the first university, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

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