Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to Introduce AI Category in 2026 National Science Olympiad for High Schools
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the National Science Olympiad (OSN) for high school levels this year to respond to the rapid progress and utilisation of AI technology in society.
Suharti, the Secretary-General of Kemendikdasmen, stated that the addition of the AI category is a strategic step to prepare Indonesia’s digital talent to use AI technology wisely. Speaking at a media briefing regarding the strengthening of OSN talent management governance in Jakarta on Thursday, she noted that the addition of the AI exhibition category was an unavoidable necessity given the accelerating pace of information technology development.
She explained that current AI developments have influenced almost all aspects of life, making it increasingly difficult for the public to identify works created with the assistance of AI technology. The specific materials and mechanisms for this new category have not yet been publicly announced as the draft guidelines are still being finalised. The Ministry expects to socialise these guidelines by mid-June at the latest.
Unlike the nine other OSN high school categories, which follow a tiered selection process from the regency to the national level, the selection for the AI category will be conducted centrally this year. Participants will be selected directly for the national level.
The Ministry ensured that this category will serve as part of the training programme for Indonesian candidates for international AI competitions. For instance, at the 2025 International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), Indonesia sent delegations for mathematics, AI, and informatics, which were products of the training provided to the 2024 OSN Informatics and Mathematics winners. By establishing this AI exhibition, the Ministry aims to have a dedicated pipeline of candidates ready for international competition by 2026.