With the evolution of the Bruneian education system that now focusses more on catering primarily to the needs of students and, subsequently, the nation in its human resource development agenda, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and the Ministry of Education have taken the initiative to hold a Lesson Study Seminar to ensure that teachers of today are better equipped to mould the leaders of tomorrow.

From 29^th September to 2^nd October, dozens of primary school teachers throughout the country gathered to collaborate, discuss and share experiences and thoughts at the Lesson Study Seminar, held with support from the Embassy of Japan and the Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA). 

The seminar was facilitated by three Japanese academicians who are well versed in Lesson Study processes. Lesson Study is a teacher-driven, school-based professional development and has been practiced as well as become a part of Japanese teachers’ and educators’ school culture.

The seminar featured a keynote lecture by Professor Masami Matoba entitled “Designing Teaching through Evidence-based Lesson Study: Lesson Analysis for Sustainable Lesson Study”. About 120 participants, consisting of school leaders, head mentors and teacher implementers underwent respective parallel workshops conducted by Professor Matoba, Associate Professor Yoshiaki Shibata and Associate Professor Hiroyuki Kuno, both from Nagoya University, Japan. The groups discussed the learning and teaching aspects that they have to highlight in observing a classroom lesson

Held in conjunction with the 100 years of formal education in Brunei Darussalam, the seminar was officiated by the Guest of Honour, Dr. Haji Junaidi bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Permanent Secretary (CoreEducation ) of the Ministry of Education. In his speech, he highlighted the need for teachers to develop professional learning communities and to make use of the opportunities that Lesson Study practice present to achieve that goal.

He stressed that, as a professional tool currently practised worldwide across different nations, Lesson Study is aimed at aiding teachers in self-development as part of learning communities where they systematically examine their practice with the goal of becoming more effective practitioners.

“We are fully aware that Lesson Study involves groups of teachers working collaboratively as a team, designing lesson plans, observing lessons, analysing, revising and finally documenting their findings so that others can benefit," he said. “Whilst at the same time placing student-centred learning at the forefront where students' learning processes are carefully observed and examined.”

Present at the seminar was also Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Brunei Darussalam, Ms Noriko Iki, as special guest to commemorate 30 years of Brunei and Japan’s diplomatic relationship. She expressed that the relationship between the two nations has even extended to education where Brunei has adopted Japan’s teacher professional development practice that has been around in Japan for more than 100 years. 

The practice of Lesson Study in Brunei took root in 2008 among mathematics teachers and has since been adopted under the Literacy and Numeracy initiative as part of one of the ministry's seven grand initiatives in realising its vision of 'Quality Education towards a Developed, Peaceful and ProsperousNation’ through the National Education System, or SPN-21.

Dr Hj Junaidi reminded teachers, who are building a professional learning community, to recognize the need to work together to achieve a collective purpose of learning. He reiterated the core formal education mission being that the process of gaining knowledge should be given just as much priority as their final results.

"The setting up of professional learning communities such as that being practised globally through Lesson Study encourages peer collaborations for improving the quality of both teaching and learning," he said, emphasising that such an approach will enable teachers to learn from their peers and improve on their skills, especially on ascertaining the difference between the intended curriculum, the implemented curriculum and the attained curriculum.

The seminar was aimed at knowledge-transference of mechanisms as well as the history of Lesson Study as well as examining how to implement Lesson Study in a real school setting. This is in addition to covering a number of subjects and introducing a hands-on experience, taking examples from both Brunei and Japan.