Sistem Pendidikan Negara Abad ke 21, SPN 21, or the National Education System of the 21st Century, provides various access, enabling students to choose the programme that suits their capability, interest, and development. Schools are encouraged to create an effective learning environment for all students including talented students with special needs. Towards this goal, the Minister of Education said the country is currently implementing two education programmes for talented special needs students, known as Challenge Programme and Excellence Programme. Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Doktor Haji Awang Abu Bakar was speaking at the launch of the ASEAN PLUS THREE Junior Science Odyssey Competition. The competition took place at the UBD, Gadong.
Over 60 students of between 13 and 15 years of age participate in the one-week international event. They are from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Sweden as an observer country. Among the objectives of the programme are to encourage and challenge gifted science students to excel in the field of Science and Technology; to stimulate their intellectual curiosity through various experiences and experiments; and to motivate the students to pursue careers in Science and Technology.The programmes also gives numerous opportunites geared to spark the students' common passion for science and research in the pursuit of scientific excellence.