RI to have world-class physics, math training center
RI to have world-class 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.