RI the brains in Science Olympiad

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.