Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College was established on 15 October 1951.[1] At the time of the establishment, it was known as Brunei Town Government English School and functioned as an English
preparatory school.[1][2] It was also the first government school in the country which provided education in English.[2] The school eventually renamed to its that as it is known today in 1955.[1]
The school was the first to provide secondary education in the country. It was gradually implemented, beginning in 1953 with the introduction of Form I.[3] By 1957, the school had all five years of the secondary education and for the first time the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate examination, a precursor to
GCE 'O' Level, was conducted at the school in that year for its Form V students.[3]
The British writer
Anthony Burgess taught at the school in 1959.
Academics
At present, secondary education in Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College lasts five years, beginning in Year 7. At the end of Year 11, students sit for
GCE 'O' Level and/or
IGCSE examination. After that, they may proceed to
sixth form for
A Levels. Alternatively, they may also opt for vocational education at
IBTE schools or other types of post-secondary education at various non-government schools.
^
abAsbol bin Haji Mail, Haji Awang (2010). Sejarah perkembangan pendidikan di Brunei, 1950-1985 (Cet. 2 ed.). Bandar Seri Begawan: Pusat Sejarah Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. p. 73.
ISBN978-9991734484.
OCLC642642811.
^
abAsbol bin Haji Mail, Haji Awang (2010). Sejarah perkembangan pendidikan di Brunei, 1950-1985 (Cet. 2 ed.). Bandar Seri Begawan: Pusat Sejarah Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. p. 77.
ISBN978-9991734484.
OCLC642642811.