Indonesia seeks solution after 2026 national science olympiad prizes draw criticism

Indonesia’s Education Ministry is looking for a way to increase prizes for high-achieving students after the awards at the 2026 National Science Olympiad drew public criticism.

Many people objected that the prizes for the winners were too small and appeared lower than the previous year’s awards. Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti said the ministry was exploring other funding sources so the prize budget could be increased.

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We are looking for a scheme so that the budget can be drawn from other sources and the prize budget can be increased.

“We are looking for a scheme so that the budget can be drawn from other sources and the prize budget can be increased,” Mu’ti said on Monday, 7 September. He apologized if the awards were not large, while stressing that recognition for student achievement forms part of the government’s talent-management system under Regulation No. 25 of 2025.

Mu’ti said the awards were not intended simply as cash prizes. They recognize students’ dedication, hard work, perseverance and achievements, while also opening the way to continued talent development. He urged the public not to measure student success only by the size of the prize, saying winners would receive ongoing support.

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I apologize if perhaps the prize is not large.

Maria Veronica Irene Herdjiono, head of the National Achievement Center, said support would continue beyond prizes and coaching funds. The center aims to help talented students develop further and compete internationally. One route is the Indonesia Talent Scholarship, a collaboration between the center and the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education, which funds undergraduate or applied undergraduate study in Indonesia or abroad.

Irene also said the National Science Olympiad was not solely about medals or winning. The competition, she said, gives students space to develop their abilities and build character.

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National achievement is not the end of the development process. We continue to accompany talented students so they can develop and have even broader opportunities.