Science Olympians may win scholarships<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is mulling the provision of one-year scholarships
\nfor silver and bronze medal winners of the National Science
\nOlympics who lack funds to continue their studies at the
\nuniversity.<\/p>\n
Ministry of National Education Director General of Elementary
\nand Secondary Education Indra Djati Sidi said on Wednesday that
\nthe government was formulating the criteria and budget for the
\nscholarships, which would comprise admission as well as tuition
\nfees and cost of living allowance for the first year of study.<\/p>\n
Indra said the students would be encouraged to seek
\nscholarships themselves to cover the remaining costs of their
\nstudies.<\/p>\n
\"I hope by next year the ministry will be able to provide
\nscholarships for the silver and bronze medalists,\" said Indra.<\/p>\n
Gold medalists in the annual national scientific event last
\nyear received scholarships from the Sampoerna Foundation, a non-
\ngovernmental organization that awards scholarships to bright, but
\npoor students.<\/p>\n
The initial National Science Olympics was held in Balikpapan,
\nEast Kalimantan, in 2003; it saw 790 students from across the
\ncountry vie for 25 gold, 25 silver and 25 bronze medals in five
\nmajors: mathematics, biology, chemistry, computer science and
\nEnglish.<\/p>\n
This year's event will be held in Riau, Pekanbaru, from Aug.
\n24 through Aug. 29, with 840 students participating.<\/p>\n
Indra said the government's decision to award scholarships for
\nthe silver and bronze medalists came after Mulyono -- who won a
\nbronze at the International Biology Olympics in Brisbane,
\nAustralia, in July -- faced difficulties in entering Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity in his hometown, Yogyakarta, due to financial
\nproblems. Mulyono was later enrolled at the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology.<\/p>\n
The government has allocated around Rp 1.5 trillion (US$163
\nmillion) in scholarships for 9.1 million elementary and junior
\nhigh school students for fiscal year 2005, says Indra.<\/p>\n
The Sampoerna Foundation and the ministry signed an agreement
\non Wednesday which stipulates that the former would provide Rp 50
\nmillion in scholarships for each of 25 gold medalists in the
\nupcoming National Science Olympics.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement the gold medalists will be able to apply
\nfor seven state universities: University of Indonesia, Bogor
\nInstitute of Agriculture, Bandung Institute of Technology,
\nPadjadjaran University, Gadjah Mada University, Airlangga
\nUniversity and the Surabaya Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n
Foundation operation and finance director Elan Merdy said the
\nscholarships would cover student tuition fees, plus monthly
\nliving cost allowance for eight semesters.<\/p>\n
\"The amount is adjustable as we understand that it may be
\ninappropriate for those who are still in their first or second
\nyear of senior high school. The tuition fees may increase once
\nthey are ready for university,\" said Elan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/science-olympians-may-win-scholarships-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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