Local students attended a training session held at The International School Brunei in preparation for the upcoming ISB Borneo Global Issues Conference which will be held at ISB and the ICC from 27 February 2009 – 2 March 2009. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Cultural Survival: Rights and Aspirations of Indigenous Peoples’.

Nearly 200 local school students will form the majority of this year's annual conference, with 66 overseas students from various international schools in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
ISB student leaders have been managing an online forum for participants and the response from local students has been positive. Forum 2 Secretary-General Then May Anne said, “The online forum is very much like Facebook; it is very user-friendly and enables participants to discuss parliamentary procedure as well as ask questions. Teenagers are all IT-savvy and they can easily download relevant documents and read helpful blogs.”

“Another important advantage is that we are all making contact online; we are looking forward to meeting each other face-to-face during the training sessions and the actual conference itself. With nearly 300 students participating in this conference, we want to help everyone make the most of their ISB BGIC experience by encouraging them to actively and confidently represent their allocated countries during committee debate sessions,” said Forum 1 Secretary-General Yasmin Murphy.

"We are very pleased to work with local student participants from Maktab Duli, Maktab Sains, PAP Hajah Masna, SOAS, SMJA, STPRI, SM Rimba, SM Masin, SM PIHM, SM Sufri Bolkiah Tutong, SM Pg Jaya Negara PHAB Kuala Belait, PTE Katok, Chung Hwa and JIS,” she added.

The practice session for BGIC

Local participants observed a simulation of a debate session and participated in a Question and Answer session. ISB is hosting a similar training session on Monday 9 February 2009 from 2.00-4.00pm to support local school participants. Members of the public are welcome to observe the Opening Ceremony, Committee Sessions and General Assembly at the ICC. Programmes and further information regarding this conference are available on the school website: www.isb.edu.bn and all enquiries should be sent to the event coordinator at alingwong@isb.edu.bn [Courtesy of ISB]