Teaching in Brunei FAQ

Where is Brunei?

Many people believe that it is in the Middle East, as it is a small oil-rich Muslim state. Brunei is actually situated in Southeast Asia on the Northeast coast of the island of Borneo, 450Kms north of the Equator. Brunei is divided into two separate sections and is totally surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

What is the environment like in Brunei?

The country has a lush, green, leafy feel to it that many people find addictive. Every bush is alive with sounds of hundreds of creatures.  The amount of flora and fauna is one of the many attractive aspects of life in Brunei.

Most people tend to live on or near the coast. The rest of the country is mostly primary or secondary rainforest. Despite the enormous amount of development which has taken place over the last ten years, there are still very large areas of untouched jungle, as there has been little or no extensive logging and there is not really any heavy industry. The oil industry is concentrated on the southwest coast and does not have a serious degrading effect on the environment. Because of the small population, the towns are not at all crowded. Thus, much of the country is in pristine condition.

What is the social life like in Brunei?

Brunei is a Muslim country, therefore Western style nightlife is limited and there are no official pubs or nightclubs. However, the lack of such establishments means that people tend to organise more events/parties themselves. There is a wide variety of clubs and societies you can join to meet people depending on your interests. There are a number of good cinemas showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters. There are a large number of restaurants for all types and budgets and it is easy to go over the border into Malaysia which is more liberal with good hotels, bars, etc. Non-Muslim teachers are also allowed to bring in 12 cans of beer and two bottles of wine or spirits every 48 hours. The border is not usually more than an hour’s drive away.

In general, Brunei is a more family-oriented place with many events revolving around children’s activities. However, many single teachers find that they can socialise with other singles and go into the neighbouring states quite easily, making Brunei quite liveable for everyone.

What sort of travel opportunities exist for teachers in Brunei?

While not teaching in Brunei, teachers spend their holidays in various places throughout Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Many teachers take the opportunity to visit Australia and New Zealand, and some adventurous types go further afield to China, or India. It is also fairly easy to travel around Borneo by car, plane or boat into the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.

Is there much crime in Brunei?

Although not crime-free, the crime rate is much lower than in Western societies. There is little or no street crime, though rare burglaries do occur. It is advised that teachers take simple measures to greatly reduce the risk of these incidences. Most teachers never experience any problems.

For any teacher, man or woman, it is a good idea to always exercise sensible precautions.  Overall though, teachers find that Brunei is a very safe place to live, and many prefer the idea of their children growing up in Brunei than in their home countries.

What is the cost of living in Brunei?

In general teachers find that the cost of living in Brunei is much less than what they have been used to at home.

How easy is it to buy a car in Brunei?

There is a very large second-hand car market with a wide range of mostly Japanese and other Asian models available. Teachers receive an interest free B$10,000 car loan upon arrival (paid off over 10 or 20 months) and this enables the purchase of most good quality models. It is still very much a buyer’s market, with price haggling expected.

Traffic is quite light in Brunei, unlike other Asian capitals. Apart from certain times of the day, such as when schools finish, traffic tends to flow freely. Roads are generally very good, although in more remote areas they can occasionally be in a poorer state of repair.

How flexible are the teaching contract terms in Brunei?

Once you sign a contract, then you are legally bound to complete the contract, as is your employer to honour the terms of the contract.

How much can a teacher save in Brunei?

Teaching in Brunei has it’s benefits, as there is no income tax. Your quoted salary is what you will receive at the end of the month. In addition, you will receive two months’ salary per year of service when you complete each contract, along with housing and certain allowances (depending on your family situation).

The amount you can save as a teacher in Brunei depends very much on your lifestyle. If you are frugal, and don’t go on expensive holidays then it is quite possible to save about half of what you earn unless you are very low on the salary scale. However, teachers with a non-working dependent spouse and children will find it difficult to make any substantial savings in their first contract.

What is the accommodation for teachers in Brunei? In general, teachers in Brunei live in houses which are much larger than what they may be used to in their own country. It should be noted however that houses can vary a lot from one district of Brunei to another. Rent rates have come down considerably in recent years, and very favourable rates can be negotiated by your employer with landlords.  Teachers in Brunei will be offered an excellent standard of accommodation.

Teachers with families in Brunei usually live in large detached houses with gardens, while single teachers are able to live in similar houses but many prefer to live in smaller accommodation and keep the surplus of the housing allowance. Basic furnishing is provided for teachers in Brunei, although some landlords provide additional extras such as TVs and washing machines.

Do teaching jobs in Brunei cover insurance and medical matters?

Teachers in Brunei and dependants aged 12 and above receive treatment at a nominal cost in government clinics. For those under 12 years in age, treatment in government facilities is free. The standard of treatment is quite good. Teachers in Brunei are also provided with a comprehensive insurance policy which teachers must take out to cover private medical treatment in Singapore or elsewhere (not N. America). This costs about $500 per year per teacher. These costs are subsidised so that teachers pay around $300 per year, and dependants pay 50% of the total cost.

For other types of insurance, several major international companies are represented in Brunei.  House contents insurance is easy to obtain at quite competitive rates. Car insurance is also reasonably cheap and companies will often honour an existing no claims bonus from outside Brunei.

When and how are teacher salaries in Brunei paid?

Teaching salaries in Brunei are paid directly into teachers’ bank accounts before the end of every month. Teacher salaries are paid in Brunei dollars, which is pegged to the Singapore dollar. The Brunei dollar has remained relatively stable throughout the economic crisis of recent years.

What is the electricity supply like in Brunei?

The standard electricity supply in Brunei is 220-240 volts. Plugs are of the 3 prong variety, the same as in the UK. Adaptors for other plugs are easy to find. Power outages happen occasionally, in some areas more than others, but usually not for more than a couple of hours. Although some people do purchase surge protectors, most teachers do not find that power surges are a problem.

What about schooling for teachers’ children?

There are two excellent options. Firstly, there is the International School Brunei, where most teachers send their children. Established about 30 years ago, the school follows the UK National Curriculum from Kindergarten up to GCSE and the International Baccalaureate for years 12 and 13. Teachers here are usually UK or Aus/NZ trained. Your employer pays teachers an education allowance which makes a significant contribution towards school fees for up to two children from Kindergarten. Teachers will need to pay the initial entrance fee to the school for each child.

The second option is the Jerudong International School. This school was established in the mid-90’s and also offers the UK National Curriculum through to A Level. The buildings are extensive and purpose-built and facilities are excellent. Once again, the education allowance makes a considerable contribution towards the cost of education at JIS but, as the fees are quite a bit more than ISB, teachers choosing this option will have to make up the difference themselves.

What sports facilities exist in Brunei?

Just about any sport you want is catered for. The Hash House Harriers (running through the jungle) are very popular, as is tennis, swimming, scuba diving, squash, football, rugby, golf, etc. The facilities are very good and quite cheap.

What sort of Extra Curricular Activities are teachers involved in?

This depends very much on what teachers can offer to students, but can involve any sports, English quizzes, jungle walks, drama productions, school publications etc. You will be expected to participate in extra-curricular (or co-curricular) activities in your school on a regular basis as part of your normal school duties.

What opportunities are there for involvement in materials development?

There are many opportunities for this, and they are increasing all the time. We currently have people involved in revisions of the textbooks in use in schools. We have very close links with Macmillan Publishers in the UK, if teachers wish to pursue more individual projects.

What opportunities exist for Professional Development?

Your employer currently runs the Cambridge ESOL In-service Certificate in ELT, as well as various computer courses, and Malay Language lessons. They also run the ESL in the Mainstream course. There is also the possibility of financial assistance for teachers who wish to undertake further study by distance learning, such as a Master’s Degree etc.

How many teachers are teaching in Brunei with this program?

Currently, there are  75 primary teachers and 190 secondary teachers in Brunei.

How are the schools organised?

A secondary school is run by a Principal who is usually Bruneian, assisted by two Deputy Principals. There is a fairly standard hierarchy below that, of Senior Teachers, Heads of Departments etc. In primary schools there is a Head Teacher who is usually assisted by a Deputy, although this depends on the size of the school.

Although some teachers in this program are Heads of Departments in secondary schools, or hold some other administrative role, there is less possibility of career progression in an individual school than you might expect at home. On the other hand, teachers who have successfully completed a contract are well placed to benefit from career progression activities worldwide through your employer and/or Teach Away.

How big are the schools?

Some secondary schools have over 2000 students, often split into two shifts. However, most have around 1500 students. Primary schools usually have around 300-400 students, although some have as few as 100, or as many as 1000. It should be noted that teachers could be posted by the ministry to any school, on either morning or afternoon shift. Obviously, a teacher’s family circumstances are taken into account wherever possible.

How many foreign teachers are in each school?

In secondary schools there can be up to 10 or 11 foreign teachers. In primary schools, there is usually only one foreign teacher, who may also be the only expatriate in the school.

What subjects will I teach in Brunei?

Foreign teachers are recruited as teachers of EFL, although some occasionally teach other subjects. This may happen in Primary schools, but would be rare in secondary schools. Other subjects are taught by local teachers or expatriates directly employed by the government.

What are the students like?

Most of the students are Malay Muslims, but there are also quite a large number of Chinese students who may be Bruneian citizens or Permanent Residents. In more rural areas other indigenous groups may be represented. In terms of ability and motivation, there is quite a wide range; from highly motivated students with almost native-speaker English language competence to the disaffected and unmotivated students with very little English. As in any country, discipline problems do exist, although they tend to be born of frustration and manifest themselves more in lethargy than in confrontation. Systems to deal with such problems are in place in most schools although the will to use them depends very much on the school concerned.

What resources are available for teachers?

In three of the four districts of Brunei, there are Education Centres, with a fairly extensive stock of books, magazines, and videos as well as photocopying facilities. Each teacher has an annual photocopying allowance. When comparing schools, resources may vary greatly.

What is an average teacher’s workload like in Brunei?

A normal teaching load at the secondary level is typically about 12-16 contact hours a week, or 24 to 32 teaching periods. Teachers in general teach up to a maximum of 6 periods in any single day. Additionally, secondary teachers have to be in school for an additional 4.5 hours per week. This time is set aside for clubs, extra classes and meetings. For those teachers on the afternoon shift this can mean they are expected to be in school on Friday mornings once or twice per month for extension activities or extra lessons. Periodically, throughout the year all teachers will be expected to attend school functions on Fridays or Sundays. These events can include sports days, teacher parent interviews and other whole school events.

At the primary level, teachers can expect a classroom timetable of around 15 contact hours. There has been a recent change in government policy and all primary teachers are required to stay back in school up to twice a week for extension activities and clubs. Each of these sessions lasts 3 hours.

Because of pressure of numbers, some schools run a double shift (7.30-12.30 then 12.30-5.30), but teachers will only work one of those shifts. The majority of teachers find that they have considerably more free time in a typical working week than they did in their home countries.