The Prempeh College, Kumasi, Friday rallied strongly to win the grand finale of the 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi.

After a slow start in the first two rounds of the contest, the four-time winners gathered momentum in the final stages, and would give defending champions, the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (SHS), Legon, as well as Keta SHTS a stiff competition to carry the day.

Prempeh had cumulative points of 53 after five rounds of contest, followed by Presec, which bagged cumulative points of 49, and Keta emerging as the second runner-up with 33 points.

The champions took home a cash prize of GH¢80, 000, while Presec and Keta received GH¢64, 000 and GH¢50, 000, respectively.

Prempeh was also presented with a trophy, souvenirs and certificates, with the other two contesting finalists also getting souvenirs and certificates.

Additionally, contestants who distinguished themselves in the course of the competition are to receive cash awards and scholarship packages to enhance their career development.

Francisca Lamini, the female contestant for Keta Senior High Technical School, became the toast of social media platforms for being the first female to compete in the grand finale for the last eight years.

The Quiz was initiated in 1994 to promote the study of Science and Mathematics at the second-cycle level of education.

Presec has won the competition six times, and made 10 appearances in the grand finale.

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, in a speech read on his behalf, said the government was committed to investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Consequently, the Ministry would liaise with stakeholders to create the needed platform in generating interest in the study of those subjects, especially at the basic level.

He lauded the contesting schools for how far they came in the competition, saying the sponsors also deserved commendation for supporting the programme.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, in a speech read on his behalf, said the sustainable development and growth of any society depended on the sciences.

For this reason, he said, the Otumfuo Foundation would be working effectively with the organizers of the programme to achieve the objectives for which the NSMQ was initiated.

Champions Over The Years

Prempeh College, Kumasi – 1994

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon – 1995

Prempeh College, Kumasi – 1996

Opoku Ware School, Kumasi – 1997

Achimota School, Accra – 1998

Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast – 1999

St. Peter’s Secondary School, Nkwatia – 2000

Pope John Secondary School, Koforidua – 2001

Opoku Ware School, Kumasi – 2002

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon – 2003

Achimota School, Accra – 2004

St. Peter’s Secondary School, Nkwatia – 2005

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon – 2006

St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast – 2007

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon – 2008

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon – 2009

Ghana Secondary Technical School, Takoradi – 2012

St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Accra – 2013

Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast – 2014

Prempeh College, Kumas i- 2015

Adisadel College – 2016

Prempeh College – 2017

St. Peter’s Senior High School, Nkwatia – 2018

St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast – 2019