Six Junior High School Students Represent Indonesia In The International Junior Science Olympiad

A total of 6 junior high school students represented Indonesia in the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The six best junior high school students represented Indonesia in the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) which took place in Dubai 12-21 December 2021.

"Students who represent Indonesia in this prestigious event are participants who qualify based on the results of the National Science Competition (KSN)," said Acting Head of the National Achievement Center of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Asep Sukmayadi, in a written statement in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, December 15.

Prior to participating in the competition, six IJSO participants had completed a series of coaching stages starting from stage one which was held in Bandung on October 4 to October 24, 2021, stage two which was held in Bandung from October 25 to November 10, 2021, and stage three which was held in Depok on November 11 to December 11, 2021.

"Throughout 2021 our students have brought home many medals from international olympiads. Hopefully, this will be a provision of experience and an inspiration for fellow students. Students can prove that we can continue to excel under any circumstances, including in a pandemic situation like this," added Asep.

Strengthening character education continues to be carried out in various ways, one of which is by improving the quality of student achievement in the field of science competitions both on a national and international scale.

"Kemendikbudristek continues to include students who excel in science at the national level to compete at the international level," added Asep.

Adequate preparation, making maximum results in the form of medals is expected from the participants who represent Indonesia at IJSO 2021.

One of the lecturers who participated in training the participants, Dr. Yasman, a builder in the field of Biology from FMIPA, University of Indonesia, is very optimistic about the results that his students will achieve.

"We are preparing six students who graduated from KSN last year. They are taken from participants who achieved or have high grades, and are of sufficient age. To achieve good training results we have our own strategy. Since quarantine when they enter the training center they have started get training whose function is to find out their abilities and how quickly they receive lessons," explained Yasman.

Yasman assessed that so far the students have undergone good training and are ready to compete. The coaching material consists of the main material and supporting material.

"Even though they are constrained by a short practice period, they have received face-to-face training for a month and assignments during study hours. During the month-long training in Depok, they practice more exam questions," said Yasman.

The six students who took part in the competition were Jack Howard (Dharma Yudha Pekanbaru Junir High School), Tharfi Thufail Qays Al Hakim (Al Muttaqin Tasikmalaya Junior High School), Harlbert Mayer Hsia (Witama National Plus Pekanbaru Junior High School), Hisyam Najamuddin (Lamongan 1 Junior High School), Refa Nurtantiawati (Pangkalpinang 2 Junior High School), and I Kadek Andhika Ary Wiguna (Denpasar 6 Junior High School).