Sultan Calls for Smart Use of AI in Education, Launches Guidance Book

🌱 “From early childhood to higher education, His Majesty’s titah maps a journey: teachers as catalysts, children as the seed, and AI as the new tool. The question is — how do we nurture it all?”

By Malai Hassan Othman | KopiTalk with MHO

Bandar Seri Begawan, 23 September 2025: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah highlighted the need for Brunei’s education system to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) wisely, stressing that while it can be helpful, we shouldn’t rely on it too much. 

At the 35th National Teachers’ Day celebration at the International Convention Centre, His Majesty launched the Gen A.I. Guidance for Education book, marking a first step towards a National AI Framework in Education. 

The book aims to help teachers and students use AI tools “secara beretika, berhemah, bertanggungjawab dan berteraskan falsafah Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB)” — ethically, sensibly, responsibly, and in line with MIB values. “Relying too much on AI can weaken deep thinking and harm creativity in the long run,” His Majesty warned, while also seeing AI as a way to boost efficiency and innovation.

In his speech, His Majesty also agreed to update parts of the Brunei Education Act (Cap. 56), giving the Lembaga Peperiksaan Negara Brunei Darussalam the power to award qualifications for local subjects at upper secondary and pre-university levels. 

This change, His Majesty noted, will enhance the credibility of Brunei’s exam board and ensure its certifications are recognised internationally, which is crucial for Bruneian students looking to study abroad.

His Majesty also supported new guidelines for Private Higher Education Institutions (IPTS), allowing them to create their own programs and award qualifications within the Brunei Darussalam Qualification Framework (BDQF). This is a big step towards diversifying the country’s higher education options, giving students more choices while ensuring IPTS maintain quality and relevance to national needs.

Recognising the importance of strong foundations, His Majesty called for a comprehensive National Early Childhood Care and Education Framework. This framework, to be developed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, will ensure every child gets a well-rounded, inclusive, and high-quality start to learning, including religious education.

Reaffirming this year’s theme — “Guru Pemangkin Pendidikan Lestari dan Inovasi” (Teachers as Catalysts for Sustainable and Innovative Education) — His Majesty recognised the crucial role teachers play in shaping the nation’s future. He congratulated the recipients of the Teacher’s Day Awards, hoping that this recognition would inspire more contributions to the country’s educational excellence.

The focus on AI shows Brunei's readiness to tackle one of the biggest debates in global education — how to balance tech-driven efficiency with human creativity and ethical values. 

By launching the Gen A.I. Guidance for Education, His Majesty positioned Brunei as an active player in promoting the responsible use of AI in classrooms. 

For teachers, students, and parents, this milestone presents both opportunities and responsibilities: the future’s tools are here, but they need to be used with national values, critical thinking, and creativity in mind.