RI the brains in Science Olympiad
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Indonesia has dominated in winning trophies and medals at the International Mathematics and Science Olympiad for elementary school students held here from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.
In Mathematics, Indonesia made a clean sweep of all three trophies for Best Overall, Best Theory and Best Exploration in that event.
Best Overall and Best Theory categories were grabbed by Ivan Kristanto, a six-grade student from Yos Sudarso Elementary School, Tasikmalaya, West Java, while the Best Exploration category was won by Mugen Lensrich from Penabur Christian Elementary School Modernland, Tangerang, Banten.
In the same subject, of the 27 medals awarded, Indonesia also won one gold medal (Ivan Kristanto), two silvers (Mugen Lensrich and Muhammad Sena Luphdika) and six bronzes (Kevin Soedyatmika, Andhika Renaldi, I Wayan Adi Juliawan, M. Yusuf Isnaini Elbar, Syah Rindra Sofyan and Muhammad Ridwan).
Separately, nine medals were won by Indonesia in Science. Two gold medals were grabbed by Albert Jonathan and Fathia Prinastiti Sunarso. Silvers went to Nova Evan Baskara and Michael Austin Pradipta Lusida, while bronzes to Andreas Prasetyanto Sandiwan, Angga Ichsandria Putra, Linda Wijaya, Billal Maydika Aslam and I.B. Gde Sumbranang A.W.
Gde, who came from public school SDN 5 Tonja, Bali, broke into tears after he received the medal. "I refused my parents offer to come (to Jakarta), because if I did not win a medal it would be a big embarrassment for me," he told The Jakarta Post.
The Olympiad participants included delegations from nine ASEAN countries (all except Myanmar) and representatives from Turkey and Chinese Taipei.
Juries comprise university lecturers from the participating countries. Among them was Saladin Uttunggadewa from the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Bandung Institute of Technology.
Minister for National Education, Bambang Sudibyo, who closed the Olympiad, told the press that the result showed that education in the country was actually not all that bad.
"It is only our own people who tend to discredit ourselves. These students showed that they can achieve excellence. We have shown that we can compete with a developed country like Singapore," said Bambang.