Answer for Oral Question PL196

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd. Salam

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG HAJAH SAFIAH BINTI SHEIKH HAJI ABD. SALAM requested MENTERI PENDIDIKAN to state what the Ministry of Education’s plans are regarding Basic First Aid Education as a compulsory component in the primary and secondary school curriculum? Considering that the ability to respond in emergency situations is a critical basic skill, this approach can empower Brunei’s younger generation with life-saving knowledge, as well as increase the level of awareness, preparedness and responsiveness to emergencies within the community and daily environment.

ANSWER

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Yang Di-Pertua and Your Honourable Members,

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, good morning and greetings.

First of all, kaola would like to record the highest appreciation and thanks to Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua for the opportunity given to kaola to answer oral question PL196 submitted by Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd Salam.

At the primary and secondary school levels, the basic first aid component has already been incorporated through the Basic Health Knowledge Topic in the Physical Education curriculum, which is a general subject studied by all students, as follows:

i. Year 6 - Focuses on personal well-being and safety, including first aid;

ii. Year 7 - Basic introduction to first aid, procedures and general methods in handling incidents such as minor injuries and small accidents in the school environment;

iii. Year 8 - Exposure to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures as an important skill in critical situations requiring immediate action;
iv. Years 9, 10 and 11 - Focuses on methods of treating minor injuries as well as ways to overcome and prevent injuries while carrying out physical and sports activities.

In addition, students who participate in Uniformed Teams such as the Red Crescent Cadet Team, Scout Team and Girl Guides are also exposed to basic first aid skills.

Several first aid programmes and courses are also carried out continuously, covering CPR techniques, wound treatment, bleeding management and handling of minor to moderate injuries through practical training.