RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian top students from elementary to high school levels achieved remarkable success at the 2025 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS), bringing home a total of 77 gold medals.

The achievement was celebrated at the ICAS 2025 Medal Presentation Ceremony (MPC), hosted by the UniSadhuGuna Testing Center (UTC) - part of USG Education - in Jakarta on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

USG Education CEO Adhirama G. Tusin emphasized that ICAS is more than just a competition.

“It is a learning platform that trains higher-order thinking skills to prepare students for future challenges. The fact that several students won multiple medals proves that with the right approach, Indonesian students can compete at the international level,” he said.

UTC Manager Deddy Mulyadi explained that as the sole official representative of ICAS in Indonesia, UTC ensures the competition meets international standards, from school registration and assessments to the use of diagnostic reports that help schools strengthen data-driven, competency-based learning.

“This year we saw an increase in gold medals, particularly in Mathematics and Science, reflecting the growing strength of participants’ higher-order thinking skills,” he noted.

USG Education's Director of Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing, Niluh Komang Aimee Tirta Widiani Sukesna, highlighted that the 2025 ICAS results are clear evidence of Indonesian students’ ability to compete globally.

“We hope ICAS helps schools and students identify strengths and areas for improvement across subjects. This can serve as a foundation for developing more relevant, personalized, and internationally aligned teaching methods,” she said.

ICAS is an international assessment based on higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) for students from Grade 3 in elementary school to Grade 12 in high school. It covers English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Spelling Bee, and Writing.

Globally, ICAS is recognized as one of the most prestigious academic competitions and a benchmark for leading schools. Since its inception in 1981, it has involved more than 10 million students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries. In 2025, 126 schools in Indonesia participated, with a total of 12,030 students.

Aufan Ahmad Mumtaza of senior high school SMA Al Irsyad Satya Islamic School, who won two gold medals in Mathematics and Science, said the competition was not only about testing academic ability but also about motivating students to think critically and grow.

“I hope ICAS continues to bring new challenges and opportunities for more Indonesian students to shine internationally,” he said.

Keira Waluyo Lin from Bina Bangsa School, who earned her first ICAS gold medal in English, said the achievement was particularly meaningful as she plans to continue her studies in Australia. “ICAS strengthens my academic profile and supports my future goals,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Sherry Astari, ICAS Coordinator at Binus School Bekasi which won the award for Best High-Achieving School in Outstanding Participation, noted that ICAS benefits both students and schools by mapping academic achievements and providing international recognition.

“Our school continues to support students with regular practice and academic mentoring,” she said.

The next ICAS competition is scheduled to take place from August 3 to September 25, 2026. Students can register through their schools, while schools joining for the first time will receive full support from UTC in the registration and preparation process. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/Sri Wahyuni)