ISLAMABAD: A group of students will represent Pakistan in the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in December.

Organised annually, the event exposes students to problem solving, critical thinking and experimentation. Over the years, IJSO has been aiming to positively impact science and mathematics education at the schoollevel.

While children up to 15 years of age from 90 countries, including India, Maldives and Bangladesh, have been participating in the event for 12 years, it is for the first time that Pakistani schoolchildren will be attending the international event.`Little attention has been paid to promote science education at the school level in Pakistan. It is unfortunate that Pakistani children, equally talented and gifted as in any other country, have been missing such events held worldwide for the development of sciences.

However, Pakistani children will be part of the 13th International Junior Science Olympiad,` said Dr Mohammad Ashraf, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).

The activity-based competition includes challenging tests both as theory questions and practical assignments. The tests aredesigned to address the students` understanding of scientific concepts and their ability to apply the concepts to the situations described in the tests.

According to the PSF, out of the 80 children from both private and public schools who appeared for written and oral tests, six were selected for participating in the IJSO.

The PSF, which is bearing the lodging and costs of food, had asked parents and the schools to pay for the travel costs. This was one of the reasons why hundreds of children who had shown interest and submitted their applications did not apply for the event later.

The IJSO is more than just a science competition, said Dr Ashraf, adding it was a learning experience for students as much as for the adults.

`Besides understanding trends and progresses made in the world of science, the children will learn more from interaction with children from around the world,` he said. Dr Ashraf believed that Olympiads were one of the best learning platforms.

Pakistan is the member of only some of the events of international recognition such as the London International Youth Festival and the Asian Science Camp. Pakistan became member of the IJSO this year. Staff Reporter