Top students offered incentives to stay in RI

Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 06/04/2008 10:14 AM | Headlines

In a move to attract the country's most gifted students to pursue studies in Indonesia, the government is partnering with top state universities to provide students with scholarships and entrance test waivers.

Under the program, medalists of national and international science Olympiads, as well as high-achieving arts students and athletes, will be able to enter any department at their preferred state universities.

"They will also receive scholarships covering tuition fees and living expenses until they graduate. We will allocate funds from the state budget," National Education Ministry director general for the management of basic and secondary education Suyanto said here Tuesday.

He spoke to the press after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with University of Indonesia (UI) rector Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, who said the country's oldest state university was ready to welcome the students.

Suyanto said he had also contacted rectors of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

Director for high school development Sungkowo said most Olympiad-winning students preferred to study at UI, ITB and UGM.

Despite attaining national and international recognition, most Olympiad winners are met with the same hurdles as hundreds of thousands of other high school students in the country, who have to pass admission tests (SNMPTN).

With other countries offering them foreign scholarships at their best colleges, many choose to continue their studies abroad.

Some end up working there, sparking criticism at home over the government's wasting of their talents.

"We don't have a policy to keep these students at home because it is their right to pursue the best studies and best jobs anywhere they can. However, we now try to entice them to stay at home through this program," said Suyanto.

He said the presence of the students at local universities was expected to have a multiplier effect on their schoolmates and the rest of the community.

Gumilar said UI would soon also sign MoUs with the National Sports Council (KONI) and the State Ministry for Youth and Sports Affairs to help athletes study at UI.

"These young athletes also make contributions to the country's development with their achievements in national and international sport competitions. We want to appreciate that," he said.

Gumilar said UI would also try to attract Indonesia's most talented people now working abroad to become professors at the university.

"We will provide them with good labs, a good work atmosphere and take-home pay of Rp 15 million (US$1,610) per month. That's not a big amount, but enough for quite a good life in Indonesia," he said.

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