RI to have top physics, math training center

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To accommodate the growing number of students interested in science, Indonesia will soon have an internationally recognized training center for physics and mathematics.

The Asian Physics Olympiad (APO) and the private President University have started this week the construction of the center in Jababeka, Bekasi.

APO's president Johannes Surya said that the center's main objective was to train local physics and math teachers as well as developing the skills and knowledge of students from all over Asian countries to be qualified to compete in the Olympiad.

"We are in dire need of quality teachers in math and physics. You see, we lack around 1 million physics and math teachers nationwide. This center will try to meet that demand," he told The Jakarta Post early this week on the sidelines of the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between APO and President University to build the center in Jababeka.

Johannes said that he was very grateful that private institutions, like President University and Jababeka Industrial Estate, were taking part in the project.

Johannes usually worked alone to select bright students to compete in the world contest.

He said that the construction of the building would begin this week after the MOU signing but fell short of revealing the cost of construction.

The construction of the center, together with its facilities, was expected to be completed in May next year, and would start operation in June, Johannes said.

He added that they were now selecting trainers, and added that the center would have full-time staff to guarantee continuity.

"We will cooperate with each local administration nationwide to select teachers who will be trained," Johannes said.

The center would enhance teachers capability in making physics and math interesting and fun for students.

"We have a method that has been recognized by Asian countries to make both physics and math interesting subjects to learn. We hope by the end of the training, the teacher can adopt it," he added.

"Many countries have trusted Indonesia as we have always won gold medals in the Olympiad. Several countries have showed their interest in sending their students to the center before competing in the Olympiad. We should be proud of this recognition," Johannes said.

Meanwhile, Jababeka's president director Setyono Djuandi Darmono welcomed the project, saying that the center would help in materializing Jababeka's plans to create educational premises within the industrial estate.