Students ready for science contest

PEKANBARU: Riau has selected 80 elementary, junior high and senior high school students to compete for 40 slots in the National Science Olympics, due to be held in August in Pekanbaru.

"The students come from all over Riau to participate in preparatory programs before they are sent to the Olympics," said Kasmianto, the Riau supervisor of the programs.

He said the 80 students would be shortlisted to 60, and a final selection of 40 students would take part in the national competition.

"We're going to develop their self-confidence so that they are ready to face the competition, while also hone their analytical and practical skills," said Kasmianto.

He stressed the importance of self-confidence in such grueling competitions, as was evident during a pre-Olympics competition in West Kalimantan.

He said many students who performed well during the preparatory program scored low at the competition because of a lack of confidence.

Separately, Riau governor Rusli Zainal said he supported the activity, considering that at least 1,200 participants would be converging on Pekanbaru from across the country.

The event, he added, would be a great practice for the province, which would host the Asia-Pacific Olympics in April 2005.

Around 20 countries are to participate in the regional event.

"I hope that the selection of Riau as the host of several national events will make Riau a beacon of education," he said. -- Antara