St. Andrew's School, Brunei

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For other schools with the same name, see St. Andrew's School (disambiguation)

St. Andrew's School is a private, co-ed school in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei offering kindergarten, primary and secondary education to more than 1000 students. It accepts foreign students. The school has been considered one of the best private schools in Brunei Darussalam, mainly due to the fact that it only allows exceptional students to study there.

The school is currently located in Jalan Hj. Basir in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan opposite Pusar Ulak Primary School.

Places at the school are in high demand, and applicants are tested in English, Malay and mathematics. Classes in Kindergarten and lower primary are taught in Malay, while from upper primary to upper secondary English is used. Lower Secondary students study for a local examination called the Penilaian Menengah Bawah (Malay for Lower Secondary Assessment Exam) whereas Upper Secondary students study for the Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O' Level).

The school has consistently produced outstanding results for not only the public examinations like the Penilaian Menengah Bawah (PMB) and the GCE O' Level, but has also consistently produced champions in both national and international competitions. To take but one example, St. Andrew's School team won the Brunei National Mathematics Quiz for the sixth times in a row in 1999. The school prides itself in instilling strong camaraderie within its "family" of students, and this is borne out in the often unrivaled superiority of the school teams.

Although initially founded as an Anglican school, it aims to serve "all races, creeds, cultures and nationalities in the country". Halal food is served in the canteen.

The school has published official magazines before but this was discontinued in 1992. However, in 2005, the school resumed publication of the school magazine and is planning for it to continue for the next few years. The school is undergoing renovation around the end of 2006 to expand its premises and facilities.

1 History
2 School aims
3 Facilities
4 Notable alumni
5 References

[edit] History

The school was founded in 1956 by Canon Paul Chong En Siong, as a primary school with only 70 students and 3 teachers. It was the first Anglican school in Brunei. Until 1964 it was based in a church vicarage. That year it moved to its current locations, a site donated by Dato Ong Kim Kee. The school introduced Computer Studies classes in 1995.

[edit] St. Andrew's School motto

The school motto is "Courage and Love", and is reflected in the first stanza of the school song.

[edit] St. Andrew's School song

From mid-1990s onwards (possibly earlier), only the first two verses are sung (a possible reason is because the inclusion of the word 'Jew' in the third verse is generally frowned upon by the predominantly Muslim country the school is located in).

United we stand at St. Andrew's
For Truth, For Truth
Determined forever to choose
The Truth, The Truth
In games and studies in all we do
Nothing comes above
Our search for truth that makes us free
With courage and with love
We ask that we live and we labour
In Peace, In Peace
Each man shall be our neighbour
In Peace, In Peace
Distrust and hatred will turn to love
All the prisoners freed
And our only war will be the one
Against all human need

[edit] Recent Principals / Head of Schools

Mr. Koshi
Mr. Solomon Soo
Mr. Jacob Chin (2001 - present)

Deputy Principals

Mr. David Pang
Mr. Peter Khor
Ms. Jane Keasberry (2005 - present)

[edit] School aims

The school states its aims as:

To instill in students loyalty to HM the Sultan of Negara Brunei Darussalam and to the nation.
To provide a comprehensive educational programme from Kindergarten to Secondary Five for all races, creeds, culture and nationalities in the country.
To develop and nurture in students qualities of leadership, responsibility, self-esteem, courage and love.
To develop in students a respect for teachers, fellow students, elders and authorities.
To foster growth in character with emphasis on honesty, integrity, respect for Truth and Active Concern for others.
To develop in students an enquiring mind, the positive attitude towards school and to cultivate in them a commitment for the pursuit of excellence in education.
To develop in students a love and appreciation of music, art, culture and sports.
To play an active role within the national education system of Negara Brunei Darussalam in educating and training young men and women to meet the man power needs in accordance with the aspirations of His Majesty’s Government.