Indonesia Names Student Representative for WSDC 2026 in Kenya

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - An Indonesian high school student has secured a place on the national debating team after completing a multi-stage national selection process, earning the right to represent Indonesia at the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) 2026, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 14-26, 2026.

The student, Kalyca Najla Maggala, is a Grade 12 at Insan Cendekia State Islamic Senior High School (MAN IC) Serpong. She qualified for the international competition after successfully completing the second phase of the Indonesian National Training Camp, where she was selected as one of five members of the Indonesian national debating team.

At the WSDC, Kalyca will compete against students from various countries in English-language debates.

Kalyca’s selection followed a two-year journey in competitive debating. In her first year, she did not advance to the final stage of the national selection. However, in 2025, she won a national-level title, which enabled her to progress to the first and second phases of the national training program before qualifying for the international stage.

“After a long struggle, with many setbacks and comebacks, I can finally realize my dream of competing on the global stage at the WSDC. Please keep me in your prayers,” Kalyca said on Thursday, February 5, 2026, as quoted on the Religious Affairs Ministry official website.

In addition to regular extracurricular debate training at her school, Kalyca actively participates in various competitions. 

At KOMPek 28 in 2026, organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia, she and her teammates Rizky Alifian and Sachio Diandra received an Honorable Mention in the Economic Debate Competition. 

She was also part of the Indonesian team that finished runner-up at the Paris World Schools Championship Winter Wonderland organized by ESL.

Head of MAN IC Serpong Hilal Najmi said Kalyca’s achievement reflects the school’s success not only in academics but also in non-academic fields at the international level.

“Throughout the history of the WSDC, Kalyca is the first student from an Islamic senior high school to qualify for this event. We are proud and hope she will bring honor to her school, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Indonesia,” he said. ***