5 Senior High Schools who surprised Ghanaians in the 2017 NSMQ

Each year, the National Science and Maths Quiz becomes a platform for senior high schools to show off their best. The alumni get behind their schools in the hope of winning the competition.

Winning the NSMQ has become an academic goal most schools work to achieve every academic year.

After winning the competition five times since its inception, Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School seems to be the team to beat each year.

However, there are other 'first class schools' that have never won the NSMQ.

But the 2017 NSMQ was a remarkable competition that sought to bring to senior high school students in Ghana a unique nostalgic feeling.

Especially former students, who once attended various high schools, take immense pride in the performance of their alma mater.

It is interesting to know that the two-week annual quiz event comes with a moment full of emotions, arguments and social media trolls among several Ghanaian youth as to which school is the best and can claim bragging rights as the National Champions of Science and Maths.

Essentially, the National Science and Maths Quiz is delineated to promote the study of 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 excitement in the 2017 NSMQ has grown at a blistering pace as Prempeh College from Kumasi in the Ashanti region won the competition.

Last year’s champions, Adisadel College were keen on retaining their title after amassing the highest qualification points.

Some top schools like St. Augustine’s, Yaa Asantewaa Girls and ST. Peter’s have been bundled out albeit the latter’s being under controversial circumstances.

Schoosl such as the Jachie Pramso, Aduman SHS, Nifa SHS and Ghana National College qualification to the quarter finals took a lot by surprise especially after Jachie Pramso eliminated Pope Johns SHS in the one-eight stage.

Finally, Prempeh College won the 2017 edition of the competition.

In a bitterly contested final, the boys from Kumasi beat their rivals from Accra and Cape Coast.

They won the competition by garnering 53 points closely edging out Accra-based Saint Thomas Aquinas Senior High School who got 51 points. Defending champions Adisadel College could only manage 31 points respectively to the disappointment of many.