22nd edition of National Science and Maths Quiz launched

The 22nd edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz has been launched in Accra with 135 Senior High Schools (SHS) participating in this year’s competition.

The Senior High School students who are contesting in this year’s quiz will be taken through a mentorship programme to help broaden their interests in the various aspects of the sciences.

Addressing the media at the launch of the Quiz competition, the Managing Director of Primetime, the organizers of the competition, Nana Akua Ankomah-Asare said it is imperative for the students not to limit themselves, hence the introduction of the mentorship session.

"This year’s competition is a very special one in the sense that we are doing this launch for the first time; doing a Science and Technology Fair and we have the support of our Platinum Sponsors to thank," Mrs. Ankomah-Asare said.

CHASS support

On her part, Dr Shine Ofori who spoke on behalf of Mrs Cecilia Kwakyi Coffie, President of CHASS, charged the students to diligently apply all they are taught to assist the development of science and technology in Ghana.

She said Ghana has a lot of needs which could be solved by technology.

She noted that Ghana need solutions to a lot of challenges bedeviling our society.

Mr. Andrew Kwaning, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh officially launched the 2017 edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz and wished all competing schools well.

Sponsors

The 2017 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz is sponsored by the Ghana Education Service through the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and supported by GOIL, TIG0, Prudential Life Insurance and the Accra College of Medicine, Pulse.com.gh.

How it all began

The idea for the production of a science and mathematics quiz programme was not mooted at a national science fair or conference.

It all began in early 1993, on the tennis court of the University of Ghana, Legon. Mr. Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of Primetime, was at the court to play tennis with his playmates, the late Professors Marian Ewurama Addy and Ebenezer Kweku Awotwe.

Mr. Mensa-Bonsu was curious as to why birds could stand on a live electric wire without getting electrocuted, but human beings could not do same.

The NSMQ on television is very popular with Senior High School students, parents and, especially, with former students (old boys and girls), who take great pride in the performance of their schools on this programme.