The fixtures are ready. The stage is set. The students are hot to trot. One quiz. Different agendas. It’s the eve of the One-eighth Stage of the National Science & Maths Quiz, and as the students finalise their preparations to begin the battle of wits, each of them is coming with a different agenda.
For some, it is to defend their champions title. St. Augustine’s College, the reigning champions of the NSMQ, won their second title in 2019 to end their 12-year drought. In 2018, they failed to participate in the National Championship after losing their Regional Qualifier contest to Swedru SHS. In 2019, however, they came back formidable and carried the trophy to the coast. Their agenda this year? To defend the trophy.
“Let’s talk about six” became a popular mantra in the 2019 edition of the NSMQ. Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, five-time champions of the NSMQ, and of course, record-holders, came with one agenda in 2019; to win their sixth trophy and strengthen their record. Unfortunately, they saw the “promised land” but could not make it there. They placed second, but the mission continues this year.
A lot of giants fell at the One-eighth Stage of the 2019 edition of the NSMQ, and the one that hit the hardest was the “fall” of Mfantsipim School, two-time champions of the NSMQ. Mfantsipim School lost their contest to St. Augustine’s College and had to start their journey from the regional level; a first. They are back to redeem their glory, and so far, it has been quite good.
In 2018, we saw a near-invincible team that won the hearts of many – West Africa SHS. What was more fascinating about this team was the fact that in 2017, it was represented by the same contestants – Abdul Hameed O. Tade and Sahene Arkoh – who were then in their second year. They came back in 2018 stronger and formidable. They gave their very best, however, the odds were against them, and they missed the trophy by just one point, to St. Peter’s SHS. Since then, the NSMQ stage has seen a number of second year students representing their schools and performing impressively.
Notable among them are the teams from Assin State College, St. Peter’s SHS and Anglican SHS, Kumasi. In 2019, Assin State College, represented by second year students, beat Aggrey Memorial SHS at the Regional Qualifiers to make it to the National Championship. They, however, lost their contest at the Preliminary Stage to Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School who were a tad too strong for them. This year, the team from Assin State College have already made a mark, by beating Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS at the Regional Qualifiers and Ghana National College at the Preliminary Stage.
Michael Obeng of St. Peter’s SHS also represented his school in 2019 as a second year student. The school made it to the Grand Finale, where they placed third. Michael Obeng is back again as a final year student, and he is definitely hungry for a win.
Anglican SHS, Kumasi, on the other hand, also presented a team of second year students in 2019 who wowed a majority of NSMQ fans. They lost their contest to Opoku Ware School at the One-eighth Stage by one point. It’s 2020, and they are back again; same faces, but smarter and more experienced than they were in 2019. So far, the team has been marvelous.
For many others, just like Anglican SHS and Assin State College, their agenda is to win their first trophy. What is your school’s agenda?
The National Science & Maths and Quiz and Science Festival is sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with Absa Bank Ghana Limited and supported by Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance, Goil, Airtel Tigo, Dano Milk, Academic City, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City, Central University, GTP, Adansi Travels, Medifem Multi-specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, Third Eyecare Vision Centre and YFM.
The NSMQ is proudly produced by Primetime.
