School students to compete in three int'l events

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Thirteen senior and junior high school students from across the archipelago will represent Indonesia in three different international events this month.

They will compete against participants from other countries in the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) in Lima Peru, the International Olympiad of Informatics (IOI) in Kenosha Wisconsin, and the International Physics Olympiad (IPO) in Taipei.

Five of the students -- Rangga Perdana Budoyo of SMU Taruna Nusantara Magelang, Central Java; Bernard Ricardo of SMU Regina Pacis, Bogor; Yudistira Virgus of SMU Xaverius 1 Palembang, South Sumatra; Widagdo Setiawan of SMUN 1 Denpasar, Bali; and Triwiyono of SMUN 3 Yogyakarta -- will compete in the 34th IPO from Aug. 2 to Aug. 11.

Indonesia has participated in 11 previous Olympiads, winning four gold medals, five silvers, 13 bronzes and 20 honorable mentions.

In Bali last year, the national team won three golds, a silver and a bronze.

Four other students -- Derianto Kusuma of SLTP Kolese Kanisius, Jakarta; Budiarto Herman of SMU Regina Pacis, Bogor; Pascal Alfadian Nugroho of SMU Kolese Kanisius, Jakarta; and Stephanus Indra of SMUK 1 BPK Penabur, Jakarta -- will team up for the 15th IOI from Aug. 16 to Aug. 23.

Although Indonesia has competed in the event since 1995 it only claimed its first gold medal in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1997.

The remaining four students -- Putu Sanjaya Setiawan of SMU Kolese Kanisius, Jakarta; Jurist Tan of SMUK 1 BPK Penabur, Jakarta; Siti Astrid Kusumawardhani of Al Izhar, Jakarta; and Sahil Kush Mahtani of Sekolah Pelita Harapan, Tangerang -- will represent Indonesia in the 15th WSDC from Aug. 6 to Aug. 15.

Indonesia won the prize for the best new team in 2001.

The 13 students met the Ministry of National Education's Directorate General of Elementary and Secondary Education, Indra Djati Sidi on Friday.