Two points decide Ghana's prestigious High School Science and Maths contest

The 2017 edition of Ghana’s top Science and Maths contest ended on Thursday June 29, in the capital Accra. Only two points separated the winners from the second place school as the country’s social media space waited with bated breadth.

At the end of the contest, Prempeh College – a boys Senior High School (SHS) – located in the resource-rich Ashanti region emerged winners (53 points), beating St. Thomas Aquinas SHS – located in the capital (51 points), Accra. Winners of the 2016 edition of the competition, Adisadel College, placed third with 31 points.

The National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) as it is known has thanks to social media become one of the most followed events. It has topped social media trends over the past two weeks and whipped up fierce rivalry among current and old students of the participating schools.

End of Contest:

Prempeh College: 53
St. Thomas Aquinas SHS: 51
Adisadel College: 31

All Hail the NSMQ2017 champions, Prempeh College!!!

— NSMQ Ghana (@NSMQGhana) June 29, 2017

Established in 1949, Prempeh College is reputed as one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

This was their fourth victory in the NSMQ. Aquinas who placed second and third-place Adisadel were all chasing their second titles.

The most successful school in the competition is the Presbyterian Boys (Presec) SHS located in Accra. They, however, crushed out of this years’ contest at the semi-final stage.

Awards for the winners and other contestants

Prempeh College for their efforts got a cash prize of 40,000 cedis ($9,000) and packages from main sponsors, Tigo – a leading telecommunication network and the Ghana Commercial Bank.

The second-place school – St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, took home 30,000 cedis ($6,800) plus packages from sponsors whiles Adisadel College got 20,000 cedis ($4,500) and accopanying package.

Cash prizes and other gifts were also awarded to the semi-finalists. Outstanding male and female contestants were also awarded as well as the best team of the competition.

All the semifinalists get GHC10,000 each: GHC5,000 to the school, GHC2,500 to the contestants and 2,500 to the teachers. #NSMQ2017

— NSMQ Ghana (@NSMQGhana) June 29, 2017

Special Award – Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu award for most successful team goes to Nifa SHS. The team gets GHC7,000.

Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu award for the best female contestant goes to Zuweira Mohammed from Tamale SHS. She gets a cash prize of GHC5,000

Prof. Ewurama Addy award by Bubune Adih for the most outstanding team goes to Tamale SHS. They get a cash prize of GHC2000.

About the NSMQ

The contest took place at the National Theater which was filled to capacity by students and staff members of the respective schools, old boys, the media and members of the general public.

The contest went through five rounds: Fundamental questions from Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics; the Speed Race segment; Problem of the Day; True or False and Riddles sessions.

The quiz which started in 1993 is the longest-running independent production on Ghana television. It has over 130 senior high schools all over the country participating at different stages for over two weeks.

The schools qualify from regional championships and then at the national level, went through preliminary stages and then those who qualified move to the quarter finals, semi-finals and then the finals keenly contested by the three outstanding schools.

The NSMQ was instituted to promote the study of the sciences and mathematics, help students develop quick thinking and a probing and scientific mind about the things around them, while fostering healthy academic rivalry among senior high schools, the website of the programme said.