Khofifah approved Rp188.5 million ($12,300) in bonuses, allocating Rp7.5 million for each gold medalist, Rp5 million for silver and Rp4 million for bronze, according to the East Java Education Office.
The awards were handed over through the provincial education chief, Aries Agung Paewai.
Addressing the students, Aries said the medals should be seen as a starting point rather than a final goal.
“The color of your medal today is not the end, but the beginning of a long journey,” he said in a statement in Surabaya.
He praised the students’ discipline and persistence for bringing national recognition to East Java.
The 2025 OSN was organised by the National Achievement Centre under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and was held from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12 at the Muhammadiyah University of Malang in East Java.
The annual competition brought together top students from all of Indonesia’s provinces to compete in science-based subjects.
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East Java’s contingent won nine gold medals, nine silver medals and 19 bronze medals in fields ranging from mathematics, chemistry and biology to geography.
The results placed the province at the top of the overall medal standings, reinforcing its reputation as one of Indonesia’s strongest regions for academic achievement.
Aries said the provincial government remained committed to providing broad opportunities for students to develop both academic and non-academic potential, including support for competitions at the international level.
He said sustained investment in education was essential to remain competitive.
“We must not be complacent. Global challenges are already in front of us,” Aries said.
He urged students to use their OSN success as a foundation to become future scientists, professionals and leaders, contributing to Indonesia’s long-term development vision for 2045.
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Translator: Willi Irawan, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
