1219 Students Scramble for OSK Semifinal Tickets in Ambon City

More than a thousand elementary school students lined up on the field of SMA N 1 Ambon in Ambon City. They came from schools in Ambon City and Central Maluku Regency. One of them was SD N 1 Mamala-Morela, located in Mamala-Morela Village, Leihitu Peninsula, Central Maluku Regency. They had been traveling since dawn. The enthusiasm of the Mamala-Morela students and teachers was also evident in the enthusiasm of all the students and teachers representing 86 schools in Ambon City.

Usually, Kuark’s local partner in Ambon City holds the Science Olympiad every year, but with only a few hundred participants. This year was different. Ambon City was given the privilege of hosting the opening ceremony of the Kuark Science Olympiad, which attracted 92,000 participants from 34 provinces across Indonesia. This year, the collaboration between Heka Leka and PT Kuark Internasional brought hope to all Maluku children across the islands of Maluku Province.

Previously, the Olympiad was only open to children who could afford the OSK registration fee, while those with limited financial resources had to hold back. Now, an opportunity has opened for children living in villages, islands, regencies, or Ambon City. All children in Maluku receive free tickets to participate in the Quark Science Olympiad (OSK). Approximately 4,231 OSK participants competed for tickets to the OSK semifinals in Maluku Province.

More than 1,219 students witnessed the opening ceremony of the 2017 Quark Science Olympiad, which was officiated by Mr. Romeo Soplanit, SH, MH, Assistant Secretary of Ambon City for General Administration, at SMA N 1 Ambon. Another 3,012 participants also competed in science Olympiads in their respective regions, including Kisar Island, Moa, Letti, Damer, Lakor, Masela, Selaru, Saumlaki, Banda, Saparua, and Southeast Maluku.

At this Olympiad, not only are students working on OSK question sheets in the exam room, but every Olympiad participant is given the opportunity to hone their scientific skills through the Kuark Science Festival. The science festival was created with the aim of helping children experience and love science in a simple and fun way. Even under the hot sun, OSK participants in Ambon City looked enthusiastic about playing while solving challenges at each science games booth.

If there is effort, it will definitely succeed. Yes, they really enjoy all these science games. Keep learning and practicing, Maluku children. Hopefully in the future many Indonesian science experts will be born among all of you.

Forward Maluku Children. Say, “I’m a science whiz.”

Greetings Smart Maluku!