RI students to participate in int'l contests

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Two high school students from the Central Java town of Surakarta will be taking part in international contests this year.

Fajar Yuliawan, a student at state-run SMP I in Surakarta, will participate in a world mathematics contest in Japan in August, while Aditya Dharma Surya, who attends the same high school, will take part in the World School Debate Championships in Peru in July.

Principal Tatik Surati Suryo said on Friday Indonesia would send three students, including Aditya, to the debate championships. The other two students are from Jakarta.

Both Fajar and Aditya were recognized by the government for their educational achievements as part of the celebrations for National Education Day on Friday.

Surakarta Mayor Slamet Suryanto, during a ceremony to mark the day, singled out the two students in a speech and called on them to set a good example for other students to work hard and develop their knowledge.

"I am proud of them because they will be Indonesia's ambassadors to the two international contests, which will be a good opportunity for them to have a memorable experience and to repair the country's image in the international world. We hope they have made the necessary preparations to win the contests," he said.

Besides singling out Fajar and Aditya for praise, the mayor also honored 99 civil servants and teachers as well as state-run junior high school 5, which won a national contest aimed at improving the learning process.