The Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) on Monday won the 2023 edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) competition held in Accra.
PRESEC beat Achimota and Opoku Ware schools, who placed second and third respectively, to clinch the title for the 8th in the history of the competition.
PRESEC won the competitions in 1995, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2020 and 2022.
Aside from the converted trophy, the school received a total cash prize of GH¢70,000, and prizes from the sponsors; Achimota received GH¢50,000 and GH¢35,000 went to Opoku Ware School.
It was an exciting contest at the National Theatre as students, old students, teachers and other stakeholders were kept on the edge of their seats until the end of the contest.
The competition dominated discussion on social media as it ignited old school rivalry in a comical way.
Present at the grand finale were the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah who represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the guest of honour, and the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
After a keen contest in round one and two, PRESEC and Achimota School had 25 points each in the 3rd round, leaving behind Opoku Ware School which started the contest on a good note.
However, the Presbyterian Boys were able to come hard during the 4th and 5th rounds and pulled a total of 40 points, to become champions for two consecutive times. Achimota had 28 points, and Opoku Ware School, 23 points.
Mr Oppong-Nkrumah in his brief remark thanked the organisers for the educative programme, and congratulated the finalists and schools that participated in the competition.
He urged schools that could not make it to the finals to be more committed to their books, so they could also participate and make it to the finals next year.
Dr Adutwum said the government had invested massively invested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and that, the performances of the students were an indication that the government was doing well in the education sector.
The Managing Director of Primetime Limited, Nana Akua Mensa-Bonsu, appealed to the government to come to their aid, to make the competition more attractive as sponsorship was becoming a challenge.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
