Bridging Education and Industry: A Case Study of Work-Based Learning in Brunei Darussalam’s Government Secondary Schools
List of Authors
Andree Asmara Abidin, Jainatul Halida Jaidin
Keyword
Employabilty skills, Pre-Vocational Programme, Students with Disabilities, Work-Based Learning
Abstract
The Pre-Vocational Programme is a 5-year programme introduced in Brunei Darussalam since 1999 that serves students with various disabilities, in 28 selected government secondary schools. Since its implementation, graduates have faced difficulties in finding and securing jobs because employers are unaware of the programme and the students’ lack of employability skills. In the current job market, employers value employability skills more than just academic qualifications. Research has indicated that work-based learning is an essential part of secondary education because it helps improve students’ self-esteem, reinforce basic academic and technical skills as well as promote the understanding of workplace culture and expectations. All students need a set of skills and attributes that will prepare them for future learning and employment. In Brunei Darussalam, work-based learning was implemented in 2022 in five selected government secondary schools involving four students. The main aim of work-based learning was to equip students with employability skills in preparation for work and to raise awareness of the Pre-Vocational Programme among the public. Nevertheless, there has been no research conducted on work-based learning in Brunei Darussalam. The current study addresses such gap by examining work-based learning through collaboration with local companies in the secondary government school setting. In the study, work-based learning consisted of a learning package embedded with the REACT strategy and Employability Skills Assessment Forms (ESAFs) jointly designed by the researcher, educational institutions and local companies along with a packaging activity provided by local companies. Five employability skills were selected for the study, specifically Attendance and Punctuality, Dress and Hygiene, Interpersonal Relations, Work Behaviour, and Self-Regulation. The findings indicated that the students developed the desired employability skills. Insights shared by the teachers are notably beneficial not only for for the Ministry of Education, employers and school leaders in the possibility of extending work-based learning in other secondary schools but also non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in improving their training programmes catered for individuals with disabilities in preparing them for employment.