Minister honors Physics Olympiad winners

P.C. Naommy, Jakarta

Minister of National Education Malik Fadjar presented on Monday a total of Rp 30 million (US$3,226) to five students who won medals and citations at the 35th International Physics Olympiad in South Korea.

Malik said their achievements were proof that Indonesian students were able to compete with students from other countries.

"This achievement is proof that Indonesia is able to make its presence felt in international forums, and I'm so proud of them," said Malik during a speech at the ministry.

Some 332 students from 73 countries competed in the Physics Olympiad in Pohang, South Korea, from July 14 to July 22.

Indonesia was able to finish in the top five of the 20 countries that won gold medals at the event, surpassing Germany, Russia, Poland and the U.S.

China took first position with five golds, followed by South Korea with four golds, Iran with three, Hungary with two and Indonesia with one gold.

The five Indonesian high school students who took part in the physics competition were Yudistira Virgus and Ali Sucipto of SMA Xaverius I in Palembang, Edbert Jarvis of SMA BPK Penabur I in Jakarta, Andhika Putra from SMA Sutomo I in Medan and Ardiansyah from SMA Plus in Riau.

Minister Malik Fadjar presented Yudistira, the gold medal winner, with Rp 10 million, while Edbert, who won a silver medal, received Rp 7.5 million. Andhika and Ardiansyah received Rp 5 million each for their bronze medals, and Ali was given Rp 2.5 million for his honorable mention at the event.

Indonesia first entered the international event in 1993. I Made Agus Wirawan (SMA I Bangli, Bali) won the first gold medal for Indonesia in 1999 during the event in Padova, Italy.

Indonesian Physics Olympiad team leader Yohanes Surya, who is also the chairman of the Nano Technology Institute in Jakarta, said the country had brought home gold medals in the past four years.

"This was our 11th competition and we plan to beat all other countries and become the world champion at the International Physics Olympiad in 2006," said Yohanes.

In order to reach this target, Yohanes has set up an intensive training program for high school students that will begin in Jakarta this September.

"We have already submitted a proposal for the program to the ministry, and after two weeks we will discuss how the program will be run," he said.

Yohanes said about 30 students from around the country would be housed in Jakarta and would undergo several selection phases, with the top five students to represent Indonesia at the 2006 Physics Olympiad.

Yohanes said that during the eight-month program the education ministry would arrange for special classes for the students so they would not fall behind in school.

The Physics Olympiad body also wants to improve the teaching methods of physics teachers nationwide. To this end it will put on a five-day training program in Jakarta in January 2005.

"The training is free and their living expenses will be paid for by the ministry," Yohanes said.